US markets opened with modest gains today as investors assessed a mix of global economic cues, corporate earnings, and commodity price movements. The cautious start reflects ongoing uncertainty around trade policies, inflation trends, and interest rate expectations, all of which continue to shape investor sentiment.
At 9:31 am GMT 4, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was up 28.59 points, or 0.07%, at 40,553.38, while the Nasdaq rose 12.46 points to 16,843.94, also gaining 0.07%. The S&P 500 saw a slightly stronger start, climbing 9.62 points, or 0.18%, to 5,415.59.
Investors showed measured optimism amid easing concerns over US tariffs and global supply chain disruptions, following recent geopolitical shifts and policy softening. However, sentiment remained cautious, with market participants closely watching economic indicators and corporate earnings.
In the commodities space, gold prices surged, with the precious metal rising $13.20, or 0.41%, to $3,239.50, reflecting investor preference for safe-haven assets amid continued geopolitical uncertainties and inflation concerns.
Oil prices, however, took a slight dip, with US crude down $0.10 to $61.43 per barrel, marking a 0.16% decline. The pullback follows a reduced global demand forecast from the International Energy Agency, citing escalating trade tensions.
On the bond front, the 10-year US Treasury yield edged up to 4.368%, a gain of 0.004 percentage points, suggesting a cautiously stable outlook in the fixed-income market.
Currency markets also showed movement, with the euro slipping to $1.131 against the US dollar, down 0.004, or 0.366%, amid mixed signals from European economic data and interest rate expectations.
Meanwhile, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), a measure of market fear, fell by 0.98 points to 29.91, down 3.17%, indicating a modest decline in market uncertainty, according to CNBS data tracker.
Earlier, Wall Street veered toward modest losses in early Tuesday trading, showing limited reaction to President Donald Trump’s latest softening of tariffs, while relief from recent bond market stress helped maintain a relatively calm tone. Futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each dipped 0.3%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.4%.
Despite the easing on some trade measures, the Trump administration simultaneously signaled potential new tariffs, launching an investigation into the national security risks of importing pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and related tech products.
“You know the drill: one step forward, two steps back, then a whiplash pivot into carrot-and-stick diplomacy. It’s becoming the signature of this White House — deliver a policy gut punch, then soften the blow with selective reprieves or 90-day pauses. It’s market management by whack-a-mole,” commented Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management.
Bank of America shares rose 1.8% in premarket trading after beating Wall Street’s sales and revenue expectations. Major US banks have generally reported strong first-quarter earnings, thanks in part to active trading desks capitalizing on volatility from the administration’s fluctuating tariff strategy.
Johnson & Johnson also posted solid quarterly results, but its shares were down 1% before Tuesday’s opening bell.
Boeing shares tumbled 3.3% following a Bloomberg report that Chinese regulators have instructed airlines to stop taking deliveries of Boeing aircraft and to suspend procurement of aviation equipment from US firms.
United Airlines is expected to report earnings after market close.
Meanwhile, Treasury yields steadied after a volatile surge last week. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note held at 4.37%, unchanged from Monday, after spiking to 4.48% on Friday from 4.01% the previous week.
In European midday trading, Germany’s DAX climbed 0.8%, and the UK’s FTSE 100 rose 0.7%. France’s CAC 40 remained flat after early gains.
In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 advanced 0.8%, closing at 34,267.54. Automakers led the rally, with Toyota Motor Corp. gaining 3.7% and Honda Motor Co. rising 3.6%. Sony Corp. also added 2.2%.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.2% to 7,761.70, and South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.9% to 2,477.41.
In China, markets showed mixed signals. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng inched up 0.2% to 21,466.27, while the Shanghai Composite also gained 0.2%, ending at 3,267.66.
In energy markets, US benchmark crude slipped 48 cents to $61.05 per barrel, while Brent crude fell by the same margin to $64.40. The International Energy Agency lowered its global oil demand forecast for the year amid deepening trade tensions. US crude prices have dropped around 14% in April.
Currency markets also saw movement, with the US dollar slipping to 142.87 Japanese yen from 143.04 yen, and the euro falling slightly to $1.1330.