May 2025 Wall Street Movers and Shakers: Tech Stocks Lead the Rally, Microsoft and Meta Stand Out, Petros Pharmaceuticals plummets

Taiwan • Business • 05/02 21:30
May 2025 Wall Street Movers and Shakers: Tech Stocks Lead the Rally, Microsoft and Meta Stand Out, Petros Pharmaceuticals plummets

On May 2, 2025, Wall Street rose for the ninth consecutive trading day, setting the longest winning streak since 2004. Despite slowing economic growth and volatile tariff policies, strong corporate earnings and employment data boosted market confidence. Tech stocks like Microsoft, Meta, and Nvidia performed strongly, while small-cap stocks CaliberCos and Helius Medical surged on specific news. Petros Pharmaceuticals and Block Inc. took a hit due to poor performance. All three major indices climbed, with tech stocks leading the way.

Key Updates

05/03 21:59

U.S. stocks have risen for nine consecutive days: Strong non-farm payroll data and progress in U.S.-China trade talks boost the market's recovery

On May 3, 2025, the U.S. stock market rose for nine consecutive days, with the S&P 500 index achieving its longest rally since 2004, recovering the losses incurred since Trump's announcement of "reciprocal tariffs" on April 2. This rally was driven by strong non-farm employment data, advancements in U.S.-China trade negotiations, and market attention on the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision meeting. Non-farm employment rose by 177,000, exceeding expectations, with the unemployment rate remaining at 4.2%. The market anticipates that the Federal Reserve will postpone rate cuts until July. The U.S.-China trade negotiations showed signs of progress, particularly concerning the fentanyl issue.

05/03 15:02

In 2025, the first-quarter decline in U.S. GDP triggered market volatility, but robust employment figures and strong tech earnings aided the rebound of U.S. stocks.

In the first quarter of 2025, the US GDP experienced an annualized contraction of 0.3%, raising market concerns about an economic slowdown and leading to stock market volatility. President Trump blamed the Biden administration's economic legacy for this. The April jobs report indicated a robust labor market, and earnings from tech giants surpassed expectations, leading US stocks to climb for nine straight days. The S&P 500 index marked the longest streak since 2004, recouping losses following the announcement of tariff policies.

05/03 06:01

Goldman Sachs Report 2025: The Market May Have Hit Bottom, but Three Major Concerns, Including Policy Uncertainty, Are Hindering Recovery

In a report dated April 29, 2025, Goldman Sachs stated that while global stock markets are rebounding, the recovery is facing three major risks: high policy uncertainty, the impact of the unemployment rate on market risk pricing, and unusually mild market downturns. The U.S. policy uncertainty index is rising, the unemployment rate remains at 4.2%, but the number of unemployed people is increasing, and market declines are unusually mild compared to historical recession periods, indicating the market's vulnerability. Goldman Sachs warns that traditional hedging tools have become ineffective and recommends gold as a more effective hedging tool.

05/03 00:31

The U.S. April non-farm payroll report beat expectations, leading the stock market to recoup its losses.

The April 2025 U.S. non-farm employment report indicated an addition of 177,000 jobs, exceeding the forecasted 130,000, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%. These figures bolstered market confidence, lifting the three major U.S. stock indices, as the S&P 500 index marked its longest nine-day winning streak since 2004, wiping out the early April losses triggered by President Trump's tariff policies. Despite the risks posed by tariffs and an economic slowdown, the labor market's resilience has emerged as a crucial factor in the stock market's rebound.

05/02 23:02

Optimism about the resumption of US-China trade negotiations has driven up US stocks, but Morgan Stanley warns of economic risks.

On May 2, 2025, the U.S. stock market saw gains across the board due to strong employment data and optimism over the resumption of U.S.-China trade talks. The Dow Jones rose by 564.47 points, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose by 82.53 and 266.99 points respectively, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rose by 149.40 points. Morgan Stanley warned that stagflation and high U.S. debt may pose risks.

05/02 21:30

May 2025 Wall Street Movers and Shakers: Tech Stocks Lead the Rally, Microsoft and Meta Stand Out, Petros Pharmaceuticals plummets

On May 2, 2025, Wall Street rose for the ninth consecutive trading day, setting the longest winning streak since 2004. Despite slowing economic growth and volatile tariff policies, strong corporate earnings and employment data boosted market confidence. Tech stocks like Microsoft, Meta, and Nvidia performed strongly, while small-cap stocks CaliberCos and Helius Medical surged on specific news. Petros Pharmaceuticals and Block Inc. took a hit due to poor performance. All three major indices climbed, with tech stocks leading the way.

05/02 20:31

US stocks make a strong comeback: The S&P 500 index recovers losses incurred since Trump's tariff policy, marking a record streak of consecutive gains.

On May 2, 2025, the U.S. stock market rebounded, with the S&P 500 index recovering the losses since President Trump announced a large-scale tariff policy on April 2, and marking the longest streak of consecutive gains since 2004. The market recovery was driven by stabilizing economic data, labor market resilience, and positive developments in U.S.-China trade negotiations. Despite the high uncertainty surrounding the tariff policy, investor sentiment improved, and Wall Street overcame panic.

05/02 14:02

U.S. stocks rally across the board: Non-farm employment data beats expectations and easing tensions between the U.S. and China provide a boost, as the Dow Jones index surges more than 450 points.

On May 2, 2025, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq Composite, the three major U.S. stock indices, rose, with the Dow climbing 488.04 points and the S&P 500 achieving its longest streak of consecutive gains in 20 years. The rally was due to better-than-expected April non-farm payroll data and indications of easing tensions between the U.S. and China over trade. Technology stocks and the semiconductor sector led the gains, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) American Depositary Receipts (ADR) rising 3.74%. Investor confidence rebounded, and riskier assets became more attractive.

05/02 11:04

On May 2, 2025, U.S. stock futures rose as Dow futures surpassed 41,100 points, reflecting the influence of corporate earnings reports and trade developments.

On the afternoon of May 2, 2025, U.S. stock index futures rose, with Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rising 254 points to 41,109, S&P 500 futures rising 29.5 points to 5,652.75, and Nasdaq 100 futures rising 60 points to 19,930.75. This rise reflects the market's response to corporate earnings and international trade developments, especially the strong earnings from Microsoft and Meta Platforms and progress in trade policies under the USMCA.

05/02 10:02

Signs of Easing in US-China Trade Tensions: Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index Up 1.74%, Tech Stocks Lead the Gains, The Renminbi and Risk Currencies Climb Together

On May 2, 2025, signs of easing in the trade tensions between the US and China prompted a recovery in global financial markets. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce is assessing the US's tariff negotiation proposals, resulting in the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong rising by 385 points, or 1.74%, led by technology stocks. The offshore yuan appreciated by nearly 500 points against the US dollar, and the Australian and New Zealand dollars strengthened in tandem. The US dollar index fell by 0.2%, reflecting an increase in market risk appetite. Nevertheless, investors remain cautious about the global economic outlook, as recent economic data from both the US and China indicate a slowdown in growth.

Winners of the Week

Microsoft (MSFT.US) and Meta (META.US): Tech Giants Lead the Surge

This week, tech stocks rebounded strongly, with Microsoft's and Meta's earnings reports becoming the market focus. Microsoft's earnings report showed revenue and profit exceeding expectations, pushing the stock price up by 7.63% in a single day, closing at $425.40. Meta raised its full-year capital expenditure forecast to $114 billion to $119 billion, reflecting its confidence in AI and advertising businesses, with the stock rising 4.23% to close at $572.21.

Nvidia (NVDA.US) and TSMC ADR (TSM.US): AI Supply Chain Benefits

Benefiting from the AI boom and potential easing of chip export policies, Nvidia's stock rose 2.47% this week, closing at $111.61. Its major supplier, TSMC ADR, also rose 3.74% to $179.18 per share. Reports suggest the U.S. government is considering relaxing chip export restrictions to the UAE, further boosting related stocks.

Unity Software (U.US): Earnings Exceed Expectations

Unity announced its fourth-quarter earnings after the market closed on Monday, with revenue increasing 35% year-over-year to $609 million, surpassing the market expectation of $563 million. Despite a per-share loss of $0.66, the market responded positively to its revenue growth, with the stock rising significantly mid-week.

Small-Cap Surge: CaliberCos, Helius Medical, Snow Lake Resources

According to StockAnalysis data, the biggest gainers this week came from the small-cap market:

  • CaliberCos Inc. (CWD): The stock skyrocketed 1,811.65% in a week, closing at $4.76, with a trading volume of 52,924 shares.
  • Helius Medical Technologies (HSDT): Rose 1,471.92%, closing at $4.59.
  • Snow Lake Resources (LITM): Rose 869.05%, closing at $3.82.

These companies experienced explosive growth due to low starting points and market news, attracting short-term capital.

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)

In a turbulent market, Buffett-led Berkshire once again demonstrated resilience. According to the World Journal, over the past 51 days, Berkshire's stock rose 9.6%, outperforming the S&P 500 by 18.4 percentage points, and on April 3, the day Trump announced new tariff policies, the performance gap with the broader market reached 26.5 percentage points.

Losers of the Week

Petros Pharmaceuticals (PTPI): Plunged Over 80%

The biggest loser this week was Petros Pharmaceuticals, with its stock plummeting 81.56% in a week, closing at $0.249. Although there was no clear negative news, market confidence collapse and liquidity issues may be the main reasons.

Block Inc. (SQ.US): Earnings Miss Drags Down Stock

Fintech company Block reported first-quarter earnings that fell far short of expectations, mainly due to weakened travel and non-essential spending. The stock plummeted 20.4%, making it one of the worst performers among large-cap stocks this week.

Apple (AAPL.US): Tariff Cost Pressure

Apple reported second-quarter earnings, with EPS and revenue slightly above expectations, but CEO Cook warned that if current tariff policies continue, costs will increase by $900 million this quarter. The stock fell 4.7% in early trading, closing at $203.29.

Small-Cap Decline: E-Home Household, Incannex Healthcare, Mullen Automotive

According to StockAnalysis data, other top decliners this week included:

  • E-Home Household (EJH): Fell 80.26%, closing at $0.201.
  • Incannex Healthcare (IXHL): Fell 76.54%, closing at $0.136.
  • Mullen Automotive (MULN): Fell 55.12%, closing at $0.310.

These companies, mostly low-market-cap and low-liquidity firms, are easily affected by market sentiment and capital flows.

Cable One (CABO): Market Cap Shrinks Significantly

Mid-sized telecom company Cable One's stock fell 43.49% this week, closing at $152.51. Despite no major news events, market concerns about its growth prospects and debt structure may have led to the stock's sharp decline.

Overall Market Performance

All three major indices rose this week:

  • The S&P 500 index rose 4.6%, closing at 5,667.52 points;
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.5%, closing at 41,241.00 points;
  • The Nasdaq index rose 6.7%, closing at 17,885.56 points.

Tech stocks led the rise, with the S&P 500's information technology sector up 7.9% for the week, while consumer electronics and communication services sectors rose 7.5% and 6.4%, respectively. In contrast, the consumer staples sector fell 1.3%, becoming the only declining sector.

References

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