U.S. equities opened higher on the final trading day of the first half, with tech-heavy indexes extending record highs by midday trading in New York.
Risk appetite remained firm as geopolitical tensions eased and hopes grew that upcoming U.S. trade talks could yield tangible progress. Market sentiment was further supported by rising expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut, with Fed futures currently assigning a 93% chance of a rate cut in September.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 rose 0.4% and 0.6%, respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed nearly 200 points, breaking above the 44,000 mark.
President Donald Trump signaled openness to extending the July 9 deadline for reinstating reciprocal tariffs, adding that he remained optimistic about reaching key agreements in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Canada’s withdrawal of its digital …