Risk-on sentiment dominated Wall Street on Wednesday, as upbeat earnings reports and conciliatory messages from the Trump administration helped lift investor confidence.
The administration eased market fears on two major fronts that have recently weighed heavily on sentiment. On the trade front, tensions with China appeared to thaw, with reports suggesting the White House is considering reducing tariffs on certain categories of goods.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added fuel to the rally, stating U.S.-China tariffs are unsustainable and will likely need to be lowered to facilitate meaningful negotiations.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump offered an abrupt shift in tone toward Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, saying he has no intention to fire him, a remark that helped calm concerns over political interference in monetary policy.
By midday in New York, the S&P 500 was up by nearly 2%, though it had earlier climbed even higher. The Nasdaq 100 outperformed with a 2.5% gain, driven by strength in Magnificent Seven stocks.
Trump’s pivot on Powell pushed Treasury yields lower across the curve, with the 30-year yield falling five basis points to 4.83%, after briefly topping 4.90% the previous day.
On the macro front, flash Purchasing Managers’ Index surveys revealed slowing growth momentum in the U.S. economy, as the services sector decelerated sharply following the impact of recent tariff shocks.
The U.S. dollar …