U.S. equities concluded a robust trading week on Friday, August 8, 2025, with major indexes posting solid gains and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) achieving another record closing high. Investor sentiment was largely positive as concerns over recent tariff implementations moderated, and a wave of corporate earnings provided a fundamental boost to the market. This week's performance marked a significant rebound from the prior period's losses, signaling renewed confidence among market participants.
Major Index Performance: A Resilient Close
The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) led the charge, climbing a notable 1% on Friday to close at an all-time high for the second consecutive day. This impressive daily gain capped off a strong week for the tech index, which advanced 3.9%, marking its best weekly performance since late June. Year-to-date, the Nasdaq is now up 10%, reflecting the continued dominance of technology and growth stocks.
The S&P 500 (SPX) also saw significant upside, adding 0.8% today to finish just shy of its July 28th record closing high. The benchmark index closed at 6396 points, gaining 0.88% from the previous session. For the week, the S&P 500 posted a 2.4% increase, its strongest weekly showing since the week of June 23rd. Its year-to-date gain now stands at 7.8%.
Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) advanced 0.5% on Friday, bringing it within 2% of its December record high. The blue-chip index recorded a 1.6% gain for the week, contributing to its 3.4% year-to-date rise. The collective strength across all three major indexes underscores a market that has largely shrugged off recent anxieties, particularly those stemming from trade policy.
Key Stock Movers and Corporate News
Today's trading saw several prominent companies making headlines with significant price movements and corporate announcements. Tech giants were broadly in favor, with Apple (AAPL) surging over 4% today, extending its three-day rally to 13%, following its commitment to invest an additional $100 billion in U.S. manufacturing. Alphabet (GOOG) climbed more than 2%, while Tesla (TSLA) also gained over 2% despite news of disbanding its Dojo team. Nvidia (NVDA) and Meta Platforms (META) each rose approximately 1%. Microsoft (MSFT) and Broadcom (AVGO) also edged higher, though Amazon (AMZN) ticked slightly lower.
In other notable corporate news, Intel (INTC) saw its shares rebound 1% today, recovering from a 3% decline on Thursday after President Donald Trump's call for CEO Lip-Bu Tan's resignation. The CEO confirmed he has the board's full support. Conversely, The Trade Desk (TTD) experienced a sharp decline, with shares plummeting nearly 40% to around $54. This significant drop followed the company's release of weak second-quarter results and an announced CFO change, with the CEO citing pressure from tariffs as a contributing factor.
On the earnings front, several companies delivered positive surprises. Gilead Sciences (GILD) jumped 8.4% after reporting financial results that comfortably surpassed analyst forecasts and raising its full-year outlook. Expedia Group (EXPE) also saw a substantial gain, advancing 6.6% (and up 16% in premarket trading) on the back of encouraging Q2 financial results and higher bookings. TSMC (TSM) reported a robust 22.5% revenue increase in July, driven by strong demand for AI chips, signaling continued momentum in the semiconductor sector. Duolingo (DUOL) soared 13.7% after its Q2 results crushed Wall Street's expectations, with subscription revenue growing 46% year-over-year.
Post-Market Earnings Announcements
As the market closed, several companies released their second-quarter 2025 earnings reports. TeraWulf Inc. (WULF), a digital infrastructure company focused on bitcoin mining, announced its Q2 2025 financial results, reporting revenue of $47.6 million, a 34% increase year-over-year, and a 45.5% year-over-year increase in BTC mining capacity. The company expects to file its Form 10-Q after market close today and has rescheduled its earnings conference call to early next week.
The Wendy's Company (WEN) also reported its unaudited Q2 2025 results. While global systemwide sales saw a slight decrease of 1.8%, international systemwide sales grew a healthy 8.7%. The company added 26 net new restaurants in the quarter and updated its full-year 2025 outlook, with diluted and adjusted earnings per share increasing by 7.4% to $0.29. Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (PAA) and Plains GP Holdings (PAGP) also reported solid second-quarter results today.
Upcoming Market Events and Economic Outlook
Looking ahead, investors will be closely monitoring several key economic indicators and policy developments next week. The most anticipated release will be the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for July, which will provide crucial insights into inflationary pressures, especially in light of ongoing tariff discussions. President Trump's recent imposition of higher import taxes on dozens of countries and the threat of 100% tariffs on foreign-made semiconductors remain a significant factor influencing economic outlook and corporate profitability.
Beyond inflation, the week of August 11, 2025, will also feature GDP data from the UK and Eurozone, as well as July activity data from the U.S. and mainland China, including retail sales and industrial production. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is scheduled to hold its August meeting, with market expectations leaning towards an interest rate cut.
The Federal Reserve's interest rate policy continues to be a central focus for the market. While the Fed has held its benchmark interest rate steady, hopes for future rate cuts have been rekindled by weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs data earlier in the week. Traders will be keenly watching upcoming inflation data and any commentary from Fed officials for further clues on the monetary policy path. The interplay between persistent tariff uncertainties and the Federal Reserve's stance on interest rates will likely continue to shape market dynamics in the coming weeks.
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.