Tech stocks propel US markets to a four-day winning streak, as Trump eases regulations on self-driving cars, causing Tesla's stock price to soar nearly 10%.

Taiwan • Business • 04/25 23:01
Tech stocks propel US markets to a four-day winning streak, as Trump eases regulations on self-driving cars, causing Tesla's stock price to soar nearly 10%.

On April 26, 2025, the major U.S. stock indices closed higher for the fourth day in a row, driven by tech stocks. The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones indices all rose this week, with tech giants performing exceptionally well. Tesla's stock price jumped 9.8% in one day due to the Trump administration easing self-driving car regulations. This policy change is intended to boost innovation in self-driving technology and strengthen the United States' standing in global competition.

Key Updates

04/27 23:59

US stocks rebound strongly: S&P 500 and Nasdaq Index surge; Zweig Indicator triggers buy signal; there is still uncertainty about President Trump's tariff policy.

In the last week of April 2025, the U.S. stock market experienced a strong recovery, with the S&P 500 index increasing by 4.60% and the Nasdaq index jumping by 6.41%, driven by gains in technology stocks. The Zweig Breadth Thrust indicator signaled an improvement in market breadth. However, uncertainty about President Trump's tariff policies persists, which could impact the future market outlook.

04/27 23:01

The easing of US-China trade tensions has boosted global stock markets, with AI stocks driving the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index to a record high.

Tensions in US-China trade relations have eased, leading to a rebound in global stock markets. On April 25, the four major US stock indices rose, with technology stocks leading the gains. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index hit a new high, and AI stocks, such as Nvidia, performed impressively. European stock markets rose simultaneously, with the pan-European STOXX 600 Index reaching its highest level in three weeks and the UK's FTSE 100 Index achieving its longest winning streak since 2019. The market is optimistic about the improvement in US-China trade relations, and strong demand in the AI industry is also boosting semiconductor stocks.

04/26 14:00

U.S. stocks might be heading for a bull market: Zweig Breadth Thrust indicator is nearing a trigger point, suggesting a potential rise over the next 6 to 12 months.

As of April 24, 2025, the Zweig Breadth Thrust Indicator (ZBTI) of the U.S. stock market has risen to 61.34%, nearing the trigger level. Since 1945, this indicator has only reached this level 18 times, and each time it reached this level, the U.S. stock market experienced significant gains over the next 6 to 12 months. The ZBTI was created by Martin Zweig to gauge rapid shifts in market sentiment, and when it rises from below 40% to over 61.5% within 10 trading days, it indicates the onset of a bull market.

04/26 06:31

The US Stock Market Recovery: Five Signals Show the End of Sell-Off Caused by Tariffs.

After several weeks of volatility caused by uncertainty over tariff policies, the U.S. stock market has recently shown several signs of improving sentiment, indicating that the wave of sell-offs might be over. Major stock indices have been rising consecutively, global stock funds have seen a net inflow of capital, the risk premium on high-yield bonds has narrowed, risk assets have gained traction, and technical indicators suggest improved market momentum. Together, these factors indicate that the market is gradually stabilizing.

04/26 02:00

Tesla and Apple both receive a buy rating, with Tesla's target price set at $350 and Apple's at $250, with tariffs having a limited impact.

The U.S. easing of self-driving car regulations has pushed Tesla's stock price up by 18% this week. Analysts have issued a "buy" rating with a target price of $350, and there are plans to expand self-driving taxi services to multiple cities. Apple is facing tariff uncertainties, but analysts are maintaining an "outperform" rating with a target price of $250 due to its adjustments in the supply chain and a stable outlook for product demand.

04/25 23:01

Tech stocks propel US markets to a four-day winning streak, as Trump eases regulations on self-driving cars, causing Tesla's stock price to soar nearly 10%.

On April 26, 2025, the major U.S. stock indices closed higher for the fourth day in a row, driven by tech stocks. The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones indices all rose this week, with tech giants performing exceptionally well. Tesla's stock price jumped 9.8% in one day due to the Trump administration easing self-driving car regulations. This policy change is intended to boost innovation in self-driving technology and strengthen the United States' standing in global competition.

04/25 21:30

Alphabet's financial report surpassed expectations and a $70 billion stock buyback plan boosted the stock price, with the technology sector leading the charge.

In the last week of April 2025, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) experienced a stock price increase of over 4% due to first-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations and a $70 billion stock buyback plan, which drove the S&P 500 index to close higher for four consecutive days as the technology sector strengthened. The company's growth momentum in AI and cloud businesses has earned it a spot on market observers' "bullpen" list, highlighting its relative advantage in the current market environment.

04/25 18:32

2025 Turmoil in the U.S. Airline Industry: Budget Airlines Revamp Business Models to Tackle Economic Challenges

At the beginning of 2025, the U.S. airline industry, amid economic uncertainty and the escalating U.S.-China trade war, saw major airlines reduce their financial forecasts and cut flights. Low-cost carriers such as Spirit, Frontier, and Southwest were hit particularly hard and are shifting towards providing high value-added services to address the decline in demand. This shift reflects changes in market dynamics and the survival strategies of low-cost carriers.

04/25 18:32

Ed Yardeni, a senior market strategist, predicts a robust recovery for the U.S. market throughout the 2020s.

In April 2025, senior market strategist Ed Yardeni pointed out that despite trade tensions and policy uncertainties, the U.S. market might experience a strong recovery reminiscent of the "Roaring Twenties" of the 1920s. This perspective is based on recent stock market gains, a more moderate policy tone, and the resilience of economic fundamentals. If the policy environment stabilizes, the market is expected to get back on its post-pandemic growth path. The U.S. unemployment rate is low, consumer confidence is stable, and the shift in policy tone has also prompted a market rebound. The Federal Reserve might lower interest rates to counter the economic slowdown, and UBS recommends reallocating assets towards the euro, yen, and gold to manage volatility.

04/25 15:04

New York Stock Exchange Trader Tuchman: Using Technical Analysis to Stabilize Market Operations Amidst Turbulent White House Policies

Peter Tuchman, a senior trader at the New York Stock Exchange, has profited amidst the White House's policy chaos by using technical analysis and short-term trading strategies. He criticized the White House's unpredictable policies as "economic terrorism" and advised traders to scale down their positions, set stop-loss orders, and use technical indicators such as the Advance-Decline Indicator, RSI, and EMA to navigate market volatility. Tuchman emphasized the importance of risk management and suggested that long-term investors should hold off and buy on dips.

Tech Stocks Lead Gains, Major U.S. Stock Indices Rise for Fourth Consecutive Day

On Friday, April 25, all three major U.S. stock indices closed higher, continuing the strong upward trend of the week. The S&P 500 rose by 40.44 points, or 0.74%, closing at 5525.21; the Nasdaq increased by 216.90 points, or 1.26%, closing at 17382.94; and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 20.10 points, or 0.05%, closing at 40113.50.

For the week, the S&P 500 gained 4.59%, the Nasdaq surged 6.73%, and the Dow Jones rose 2.46%. This marks the third straight week of gains for all three indices, indicating a continued warming of market sentiment.

Tech stocks were the primary drivers of this rally. Alphabet (GOOGL) reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings and announced a $70 billion stock buyback plan, with its stock rising 1.68%. Meta Platforms (META) rose by 2.65%, Microsoft (MSFT) increased by 1.17%, Amazon (AMZN) climbed by 1.31%, and Apple (AAPL) edged up by 0.44%. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index also rose by 1.03%, closing at 4251.61, reflecting a simultaneous strengthening of chip stocks.

Tesla's Stock Soars Nearly 10%, Becomes the Focus

Tesla (TSLA) became one of the most notable stocks in the market this week. Boosted by the Trump administration's announcement to relax regulations on autonomous vehicles, Tesla's stock surged 9.8% in a single day, closing at $284.95, marking its best weekly performance since November last year.

Tesla's stock rose approximately 18% this week, closing higher for several consecutive days. This rally reflects not only market optimism about the relaxation of autonomous driving policies but is also positively influenced by CEO Elon Musk's commitment to focus on company operations and reduce involvement in government affairs.

Additionally, foreign media reported that Tesla has started refunding deposits to Indian consumers who pre-ordered the Model 3 in 2016, which the market sees as Tesla's imminent official entry into the Indian market, further boosting investor confidence.

Trump Administration Eases Autonomous Vehicle Regulations, Promotes Industry Innovation

This week, the Trump administration announced it will relax federal safety standards for autonomous vehicles and simplify accident reporting requirements. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that it will allow some autonomous vehicles that do not meet traditional safety standards (such as those without rearview mirrors) to operate on U.S. roads and will streamline reporting requirements for incidents related to autonomous systems, retaining only critical safety information.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated that this policy adjustment aims to simplify bureaucratic procedures, establish a nationwide standard, promote innovation in the U.S. autonomous vehicle sector, and enhance technological competitiveness with China.

This relaxation measure aligns with the direction long championed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Musk has repeatedly called for the U.S. government to establish unified regulations for autonomous vehicles to replace the current system where states and local governments operate independently. He believes that a fragmented regulatory system impedes the scaling and commercialization of autonomous technology.

Currently, Tesla has over 2 million vehicles in the U.S. equipped with driver assistance and autonomous driving software. This policy relaxation will aid Tesla in accelerating its Robotaxi plan, especially the autonomous taxi fleet expected to launch in Austin, Texas, in June.

Market Reaction and Background

This policy adjustment is viewed as a significant step in the U.S. government's accelerated positioning in the global autonomous vehicle race. As China rapidly advances in the autonomous technology field, the U.S. government hopes to create a more favorable environment for domestic companies like Tesla and Waymo by relaxing regulations.

However, the policy has also sparked concerns among some safety advocacy groups. They argue that relaxing safety standards and simplifying accident reporting could reduce transparency and safety oversight of autonomous vehicles, increasing potential risks.

Nevertheless, based on market reactions, investors generally view this move positively, believing it will help advance the commercialization of autonomous technology and enhance the U.S.'s position in global technological competition.

References

People Also Ask...

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