Major Indexes Push Higher as Tech Leads the Way
U.S. stock markets advanced on Thursday, July 17, 2025, as investors digested positive earnings reports and encouraging economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.45% to 44,453.38, while the S&P 500 gained 0.49% to 6,294.08. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.79% to 20,893.52, continuing its record-setting performance this year.
The market update showed major indexes consolidating near record highs as investors navigated multiple catalysts, including corporate earnings, economic indicators, Trump’s proposed tariffs, and tensions between the President and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Economic Data Signals Consumer Resilience
June retail sales rebounded from May’s decline, suggesting that President Trump’s tariff proposals have not yet significantly impacted consumer spending habits. The Department of Labor also reported that initial jobless claims fell to 221,000 for the week ending July 12, reaching their lowest level in three months after picking up in May.
“The world is less uncertain today than it was during the first six months of 2025,” noted United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby in a statement, reflecting growing business confidence despite ongoing economic challenges.
Earnings Season Gains Momentum
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM) posted a record quarterly profit on Thursday, citing increasingly strong AI demand. The Nvidia supplier’s shares jumped 3.78% as its results boosted other chipmaker stocks in the markets today.
PepsiCo (PEP) surprised investors with better-than-expected quarterly results, reporting a rise in revenue and a less severe forecast drop in 2025 profit than previously anticipated. The beverage and snack giant’s shares surged 6.83% on the news.
United Airlines (UAL) reset its full-year profit outlook after Wednesday’s close, now expecting adjusted profit of $9 to $11 per share for 2025. While this fell short of its earlier guidance, the airline noted that travel demand has picked up thanks to easing economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
Tech Sector Continues to Lead
The information technology sector led market gains, with notable performers including Microsoft (MSFT), Palantir (PLTR), Oracle (ORCL), and First Solar (FSLR). Microsoft reached a new 52-week high of $509.37, while Nvidia (NVDA) continued its impressive run with a 1.10% gain.
Nine Nasdaq 100 components displayed relative strength indexes above 70, with Teledyne Technologies (TDY) and Nvidia (NVDA) showing particularly high RSI readings of 80.4 and 80 respectively, suggesting these stocks may be approaching overbought territory.
Spotlight on Lucid Motors
Electric vehicle maker Lucid Group (LCID) saw its stock surge dramatically by over 37% on Thursday. The company recently announced an exclusive next-generation robotaxi program partnership with Uber Technologies (UBER) and autonomous technology company Nuro. Under the agreement, Uber plans to deploy over 20,000 Lucid vehicles with Nuro Driver technology over six years.
Lucid also recently claimed a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for its Air model, achieving a record-breaking 1,205 kilometers on a single charge. The company disclosed second-quarter production numbers of 3,863 vehicles, with deliveries of 3,309 units.
Looking Ahead: Netflix Earnings and Market Catalysts
All eyes are on Netflix (NFLX) as the streaming giant is set to report earnings after the market close today, kicking off this season’s Big Tech earnings reports. Netflix shares have risen 41% in 2025, and investors will be scrutinizing metrics such as advertising and top-line growth rather than subscriber numbers, which the company stopped reporting this year.
In the coming weeks, investors will continue to monitor corporate earnings for clues about the health of the U.S. economy and any potential negative impacts from Trump’s tariffs. According to FactSet, analysts expect S&P 500 companies to report a 5% jump in earnings per share during the second quarter, which would mark the slowest pace of earnings growth since the fourth quarter of 2023.
The dollar staged a comeback in currency markets after Wednesday’s anxiety over the future of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, adding 0.4% and resuming its month-to-date climb. This rebound is underpinned by fading expectations for interest rate cuts in 2025.
As markets navigate through these various catalysts, the resilience of consumer spending and strong corporate earnings continue to provide support for the ongoing bull market in U.S. equities.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.