Live Markets: US stocks end strong April with a bang

Caterpillar

30/04/2026 21:25

Dow ends up >1.5%, S&P 500 up ~1%, Nasdaq up 0.9%

Comm Svcs leads S&P sector gainers; Tech sole decliner

Dollar slides; US crude down >1%; bitcoin up ~1%; gold rallies >1.5%

US 10-year Treasury yield falls to ~4.38%

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US STOCKS END STRONG APRIL WITH A BANG

U.S. stocks closed out a strong April with a rally that sent the S&P 500 .SPX and Nasdaq .IXIC to closing records, as strong corporate earnings have helped investors to overcome concerns about inflation pressures from the Iran war.

Alphabet GOOGL.O, Eli Lilly LLY.N and Caterpillar CAT.N were among the biggest boosts to the benchmark S&P index on Thursday, following robust quarterly results. Caterpillar accounted for nearly 500 points to the upside for the Dow Industrials .DJI.

For the month, the S&P 500 gained 10.42%, the Nasdaq rose 15.29%, and the Dow climbed 7.14%. The monthly gains for the S&P and Nasdaq were the largest since 2020, and for the Dow, since November 2024.

The earnings helped investors shake off a sluggish start to the session after a mixed bag of economic data, which showed U.S. economic growth regained speed in the first quarter as businesses boosted investment in artificial intelligence and government spending rebounded after a crippling shutdown, but fell short of expectations. In addition, inflation jumped and is unlikely to abate soon as the Iran war has caused a surge in oil prices.

Recent policy statements from multiple central banks this week, including the Federal Reserve, indicated rate cuts were highly unlikely this year due to inflation concerns.

 Iran said it would respond with "long and painful strikes" on U.S. positions if Washington renewed attacks, and also reasserted its control over the Strait of Hormuz, complicating U.S. plans for a coalition to reopen the waterway.

Oil prices, however, eased after hitting a four-year high of more than $126 a barrel earlier in the day. Meanwhile, adding to the barrage of market catalysts on the day, Japan intervened to prop up the yen against the U.S. dollar, its first official currency action in nearly two years, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Below is your market snapshot:

(Chuck Mikolajczak)

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EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

INFLATION IS HIGH BUT SO IS FOMO CLICK HERE

BULL-BEAR SPREAD TURNS NEGATIVE AS SENTIMENT SWINGS - AAII CLICK HERE

GAS PRICES EATING UP TAX REFUNDS: BOFA CLICK HERE

DATA STEW: GDP, PCE, JOBLESS CLAIMS, ET AL CLICK HERE

US STOCKS MIXED IN EARLY TRADE AFTER DATA FLURRY, BIG EARNINGS CLICK HERE

S&P 500 HOVERS NEAR HIGHS AS TECH EARNINGS COUNTER CRUDE AND DATA CROSSCURRENTS CLICK HERE

NO MORE 'GOOD PLACE' CLICK HERE

SOFTWARE STOCKS STUCK "TRYING TO DISPROVE A NEGATIVE" - SCHRODERS CLICK HERE

A FRAGILE START ON A BUSY EARNINGS DAY CLICK HERE

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: SHAKY STOCKS CLICK HERE

CENTRAL BANK HAWKS SPOOK BONDS, TECH UNTROUBLED CLICK HERE

Closing levels April 30 https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/jnpwrrrgkvw/Pasted%20image%201777580125159.png

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