Major Indexes Continue Upward Momentum Despite Tariff Concerns
The stock market today closed higher on Thursday, July 10, 2025, with all three major indexes finishing in positive territory as investors shrugged off escalating trade tensions. At today’s market close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 270 points, or 0.6%, to finish at 44,728.30, while the S&P 500 added 0.3% to reach a new all-time high of 6,282.26. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.1% to 20,631.34, after briefly touching a record high earlier in the session.
The market’s resilience comes despite President Donald Trump’s announcement late Wednesday of a 50% tariff on imported copper and Brazilian goods, set to take effect August 1. This follows letters sent to leaders of at least 21 countries outlining new import duties, including Japan and South Korea.
“It is wild to think that valuations are above where we started the year considering all the uncertainties with tariffs, and we now have a new deadline. The market’s been extremely desensitized to all of this back and forth, and I think for good reason,” said Mike Dickson, head of research and quantitative strategies at Horizon Investment.
Airline Stocks Soar on Strong Earnings
Airline stocks led the market higher today, with Delta Air Lines (DAL) jumping 11% after reinstating its 2025 profit outlook and reporting second-quarter revenue and net income that exceeded analyst estimates. The company now expects adjusted earnings between $5.25 and $6.25 per share in 2025, down from its January forecast of more than $7.35 per share.
The positive sentiment spread throughout the sector, with United Airlines (UAL) surging 15% to lead S&P 500 gainers, while American Airlines (AAL) climbed more than 12% and Southwest Airlines (LUV) added 8%.
Fed Minutes Influence Market Sentiment
Wednesday’s release of the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s June meeting continued to impact markets today. The minutes revealed that only a few policymakers supported an immediate rate cut in July, with the majority preferring to hold steady and reassess later in the year. Most officials expressed concern about inflationary risks from President Trump’s tariff policies and noted that the current interest rate level of 4.25-4.50% might already be close to neutral.
This cautious tone triggered market reactions, with rate-cut odds for July collapsing while expectations shifted to September. The 10-year Treasury yield rose slightly to 4.37% from 4.34% at yesterday’s close.
Notable Stock Movers
Several individual stocks made significant moves at the closing bell:
– MP Materials (MP) soared more than 47% after announcing the Defense Department would buy $400 million in preferred stock.
– WK Kellogg (K) gained 30% after agreeing to a buyout from Italian chocolate maker Ferrero for $23 a share in cash, valuing the Froot Loops maker at $3.1 billion.
– Nvidia (NVDA) edged up 0.7%, maintaining its position as the first public company to reach a $4 trillion market valuation, which it achieved on Wednesday.
– Meta Platforms (META) fell 1% to $724.99, with 6.5 million shares traded compared to its average volume of 14.5 million.
– Broadcom (AVGO) declined 1.5%, giving back some of Wednesday’s 2.2% gain.
– Vistra Corp (VST) continued its upward momentum after Wednesday’s 3.6% increase.
Sector Performance
Eight of the 11 S&P 500 sectors finished in positive territory at the market close today. The Utilities Select Sector SPDR (XLU), Industrials Select Sector SPDR (XLI), and Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) were among the top performers, while the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) lagged.
The market’s fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), remained relatively subdued, indicating investor complacency despite the ongoing trade tensions.
International Markets and Commodities
In the commodities market, gold futures held steady at around $3,320 an ounce, while West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures dropped 2.4% to $66.75 per barrel.
The U.S. dollar index rose 0.2% to 97.73, continuing its modest gains this week after hitting its lowest level since early 2022 last week.
Bitcoin reached a new record high of approximately $112,900, extending its rally after hitting its first new high since late May on Wednesday.
Earnings Watch: Companies Reporting After Hours
Several notable companies are scheduled to report earnings after today’s market close, potentially impacting tomorrow’s trading session. Meta Platforms (META) will release its quarterly results, with investors eager to see if the social media giant can maintain its momentum in the virtual reality and metaverse segments.
Other companies reporting after hours include:
– ARM Holdings (ARM)
– Ford Motor Company (F)
– Qualcomm (QCOM)
– Riot Platforms (RIOT)
– Teladoc (TDOC)
Looking Ahead: Market Events to Watch
Investors will be closely monitoring upcoming economic data releases, particularly next week’s key inflation figures, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s rate decision path. The market will also continue to assess the impact of President Trump’s tariff policies on global trade and economic growth.
The earnings season is set to accelerate in the coming weeks, with major financial institutions including BlackRock (BLK), Citigroup (C), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), and Wells Fargo (WFC) scheduled to report next Tuesday.
As stock market live trading concluded today, the overall sentiment remained positive despite lingering concerns about trade tensions and monetary policy. The market’s ability to shake off negative news and continue its upward trajectory suggests underlying strength in the current bull market.
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.