US Stocks Surge, Erasing April Losses on Robust Jobs Data and China Tariff Hopes; S&P 500 Posts Longest Win Streak Since 2004

Meredith Lane—May 2, 2025227

New York, NY – U.S. equity markets registered significant gains on Thursday, May 2, 2025, as investor sentiment was buoyed by stronger-than-anticipated employment figures and renewed optimism surrounding potential shifts in U.S.-China tariff policies. The rally successfully erased the losses incurred throughout April, propelling major indices higher.

Leading the charge, both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 Index entered Thursday trading on impressive eight-day winning streaks. For the Dow, this marked its longest such run since July 2024, while the S&P 500 achieved a similar feat not seen since November 2024. More notably, the S&P 500 extended its advance, concluding the day on its longest continuous upward trajectory witnessed since 2004, underscoring a period of sustained positive momentum.

Key Market Drivers: Jobs and Trade Optimism

The positive market performance on May 2nd was primarily attributed to two key factors. First, a robust jobs report signaled continued resilience in the U.S. labor market, easing some concerns about economic deceleration. While specific details of the jobs report were not immediately available, the general strength indicated was sufficient to fuel investor confidence.

Second, hopes for a softened stance in the ongoing trade discussions between the United States and China provided a significant boost. Speculation about potential tariff reductions or a de-escalation of trade tensions encouraged buying across various sectors, particularly those sensitive to international trade dynamics.

Corporate Earnings Provide Foundation

Supporting the broad market gains were generally strong quarterly financial results from several major U.S. corporations. These reports highlighted the underlying health and profitability of key industry leaders.

Among the notable reports, Meta Platforms Inc. exceeded expectations for the first quarter of 2025. The social media giant reported earnings of $6.43 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a notable 23.18% and marking a significant 36.5% surge compared to the same quarter last year. Revenues for the period reached $42.31 billion, beating estimates by 2.61% and showing a robust 16.1% year-over-year increase.

Microsoft Corp. also delivered strong results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2025. The technology bellwether posted earnings of $3.46 per share, exceeding analysts’ estimates by 8.13% and demonstrating a solid 17.7% increase from the prior year. Revenues totaled $70.06 billion, a 13.3% increase year-over-year and a 2.46% beat on estimates.

In contrast, Apple, despite reporting fiscal second-quarter revenue and earnings that surpassed analysts’ expectations, saw its shares trade lower. The company noted higher-than-expected iPhone sales, yet its stock was down approximately 5% in early trading on May 2nd. Apple shares have faced headwinds throughout 2025, losing about 19% since the start of the year.

Sectoral Performance and Key Movers

The technology sector broadly participated in the rally, with several leading stocks posting gains. Beyond Meta and Microsoft’s earnings-driven moves, other notable tech performers included Microsoft, which gained 2%; Meta, which jumped 4%; Nvidia, advancing 2%; Broadcom, which advanced 3%; Alphabet, adding 2%; and Tesla, which also added 2% by the close.

In the energy sector, performance was mixed against the backdrop of crude oil prices reaching four-year lows. Chevron shares gained about 2% after the company’s profit topped expectations, although its revenue figure missed estimates. ExxonMobil inched higher after successfully beating expectations on both its top and bottom lines, demonstrating resilience amidst pressure on oil prices.

Economic Data Mixed Signals

Alongside earnings and market sentiment, several pieces of economic data were released, offering a mixed picture of the economy’s health. The manufacturing PMI indicated a contraction, registering below the 50% threshold. However, within the manufacturing report, the new orders index showed a slight improvement, rising to 47.2% in April.

Separate data showed that construction spending decreased by 0.5% in March. Furthermore, initial jobless claims increased by 18,000, reaching a total of 241,000 for the week ended April 26. While these data points suggest some areas of softness, the market reaction was dominated by the perceived strength of the overall jobs picture and trade hopes.

Broader Market Indicators

Beyond equities, other key financial indicators also saw movement. Gold futures rose by 0.8%, settling at $3,245 an ounce. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note closed the day at 4.32%. The U.S. dollar index registered a slight decline, falling 0.2% to 100. In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin traded at $97,100.

The strong finish to May 2nd trading suggests a significant shift in market sentiment compared to the prior month, driven by a combination of positive employment news, trade optimism, and solid corporate results from key players, culminating in the S&P 500’s notable winning streak.