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TIMESOFINDIA.COMUS stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq hit record highs as Wayfair, PayPal, and UPS lead powerful Wall Street rally on earnings and Fed rate-cut optimism U.S. stocks soared to record highs Tuesday as investors cheered powerful earnings and growing optimism over rate cuts. The Dow Jones jumped 1%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.8%, and the Nasdaq surged 1.1%, each touching fresh all-time peaks.Strong third-quarter earnings fueled the rally. Roughly one-third of S&P 500 companies have reported so far, and 83% have beaten forecasts, according to FactSet. UPS gained 7% and Wayfair soared 21% after crushing estimates, while PayPal spiked 10% after unveiling a partnership with OpenAI to integrate its digital wallet into ChatGPT.Tech giants powered higher as Apple and Microsoft both crossed $4 trillion in market cap, trailing only Nvidia’s $4.6 trillion valuation. The broader rally also reflected easing inflation and investor hopes that the Federal Reserve will cut rates again after this week’s meeting.The Fed kicked off its two-day policy meeting Tuesday, with Chair Jerome Powell expected to hint at another cut in December. Traders are also watching for signals amid a government data blackout caused by the ongoing shutdown.Market confidence grew further as President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping prepared to meet later this week, with both sides agreeing on a trade framework covering rare earths, soybeans, and TikTok.Live Events“The rally reflects strong fundamentals, easing inflation pressures, and rate-cut expectations,” said Adam Turnquist of LPL Financial. “The Trump-Xi meeting news only added to the bullish tone.”Meanwhile, the Russell 2000 lagged, dipping 0.2%, even as the major indexes hit new highs. Jefferies upgraded Nokia to “buy,” citing soaring AI data-center demand following its Infinera merger, pushing its shares up 45% this year.Consumer confidence slipped to 94.6 in October from 95.6 but remained steady overall. With tech dominance, solid earnings, and easing inflation, Wall Street’s momentum shows no signs of cooling.Why are U.S. Stocks hitting record highs today?U.S. stock markets are soaring to new record levels. Investors are feeling optimistic after a strong round of corporate earnings. Economic indicators also show signs of stability, boosting confidence. Many traders are now looking at stocks as a safer bet than before.Markets are reacting positively to quarterly results from some major companies, with most exceeding expectations. Analysts suggest this rally could continue in the near term, though a few caution that some sectors may see consolidation.Overall, the market sentiment is upbeat. A combination of strong earnings, easing inflation concerns, and hopes of future interest rate cuts is driving the record highs.The key stock indexes have all posted new highs. Each index reflects a slightly different part of the economy, and all show investor confidence:S&P 500Closed at 6,791.69 points.Gained 0.8% for the day.Marks one of the highest levels in history.Dow Jones Industrial AverageClosed at 47,207.12 points. Rose 1% in today’s session. Shows strong performance in traditional industrial and manufacturing stocksNasdaq CompositeClosed at 23,204.87 points.Rose 1.1%, fueled by tech and AI-related stocks.Continues its trend of rapid growth in the technology sector. Investors are tracking these indexes closely, as they provide a snapshot of market health. The gains in all three indexes suggest broad-based optimism across multiple sectors.Several key companies are contributing significantly to today’s record highs. Their strong earnings and product announcements have lifted market sentiment:QualcommShares surged after unveiling two new AI chips for data centers. Strong demand for AI infrastructure helped fuel investor confidence. Keurig Dr PepperReported higher-than-expected earnings. Continued strong consumer demand boosted shares.Ford MotorPosted strong quarterly earnings. Sales growth in electric and hybrid models contributed to the rally.Other notable companiesSeveral tech and industrial firms also reported better-than-expected results. Combined, these results are helping lift broader market indexes. The corporate earnings season is crucial, as it shows the real financial health of companies and sets the tone for investor sentiment.Why are investors feeling more confident now?Investor confidence is rising for multiple reasons:Strong earnings reports87% of S&P 500 companies beat expectations this quarter. High earnings give investors hope for continued growth.Lower inflation concernsRecent consumer price data showed slower inflation than expected. This reduces the pressure on interest rates.Potential Fed rate cutsMarkets anticipate a possible 25-basis-point cut in the near future. Lower rates could encourage more investment in stocks.Trade optimismHopes of smoother U.S.-China trade relations are boosting sentiment. Companies with international operations are benefiting from improved outlooks. These factors combine to create a market environment that encourages buying, pushing indexes to record highs.What about gold and safe-haven assets?While stocks are climbing, safe-haven assets like gold have seen some decline. Investors are shifting funds from traditionally safer investments to equities:Gold pricesFell slightly due to reduced demand for hedging. Investors are more willing to take risks in equities.Other safe-haven assetsSome government bonds have seen minor declines. Strong stock performance is drawing capital away from conservative investments. This shift indicates growing optimism about economic stability. However, experts caution that markets can be volatile, and some investors may still prefer safe assets as insurance.Top gainers in U.S. Stock market today Top gainers in the U.S. stock market today included Wayfair (+21%), PayPal (+10%), and UPS (+7%) after all three posted stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings. Apple and Microsoft also climbed as both crossed the $4 trillion market cap mark, while Nokia jumped after a Jefferies upgrade citing booming AI data-center demand. Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) – up 4.5% after better-than-expected revenue. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) – up 0.1% on AI partnership news. Microsoft (MSFT) – up 2.2% on positive cloud growth and earnings beat. Nvidia (NVDA) – up 0.7% after AI chip demand boosts guidance.What should investors watch for next?Even with record highs, there are key factors investors should monitor:Upcoming earnings reportsTech and industrial companies still have major earnings announcements this week. Performance in these sectors could influence market momentum.Federal Reserve policy decisionsAny announcement on interest rates will have immediate market effects. Investors should watch for signals on future rate cuts or hikes.Economic indicatorsInflation reports, consumer spending data, and job numbers remain critical. Strong economic growth could support continued market gains.Global trade developmentsOngoing negotiations, especially with China, could affect multinational companies. Positive outcomes may further boost U.S. markets. By staying informed on these factors, investors can make better decisions while navigating a strong but potentially volatile market.Latest market snapshotHere’s a quick look at some major exchange-traded funds (ETFs) representing U.S. indexes: SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) Price: 685.96 USD Daily change: +0.72 USD Intraday high/low: 687.24 / 684.68 Volume: 11.1 million shares SPDR Dow Jones Industrial ETF (DIA) Price: 477.50 USD Daily change: +2.15 USD Intraday high/low: 479.04 / 475.23 Volume: 2.7 million shares Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) Price: 630.33 USD Daily change: +2.24 USD Intraday high/low: 631.36 / 627.73 Volume: 13.2 million shares These figures highlight how major indexes are performing in real-time and help investors track market trends efficiently.Is the rally sustainable?The U.S. stock market is experiencing an unprecedented surge. Strong corporate earnings, easing inflation, potential interest rate cuts, and trade optimism are all contributing.Investors are encouraged but should remain cautious. Market volatility can occur at any time, especially around major earnings and policy announcements.While stocks are currently outperforming, keeping an eye on both domestic and global economic trends is essential. Smart investing involves balancing optimism with caution and tracking market indicators closely.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Read More News onUS stock market today Dow S&P 500 Nasdaq rallyUS stocks hit record high surgeus stock market todaydow jones record highs&p 500 latestnasdaq composite surgestock market rallycorporate earnings boosttech stocks gains (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) 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