Stock Market Updates, May 14, 2025: S&P 500 Climbs Slightly, Nasdaq Composite Gains for Six Consecutive Days due to Growth in Companies like Nvidia, Tesla, and AMD.
Stocks soared on Wednesday, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq racking up its sixth straight win. The S&P 500 barely nudged higher while the Dow dipped. The rally was fueled by optimism over the U.S.-China trade deal and a report showing April inflation at a four-year low.
Notable movers on this exhilarating day included:
Winners
- Super Micro Computer (SMCI): Soaring 15.7%, shining brighter than the S&P 500's strongest performance, after striking a $20 billion deal with Saudi Arabian data center company DataVolt [3]. The company had already enjoyed a 16% surge the day prior.
- Enphase Energy (ENPH): Jumped 5.8% on the launch of its new plug-and-play solar battery system designed to generate renewable energy for apartments and homes with limited space [1]. The company's European market expansion added to its appeal.
- International Paper (IP): Advancing 4.8% after Georgia-Pacific, a containerboard producer, announced it would shutter a mill in Cedar Springs, Ga. This reduced U.S. containerboard capacity and might create pricing power for remaining producers [1]. Industry peers Packaging Corp. of America (PKG) and Smurfit Westrock (SW) also climbed.
Losers
- Bio-Techne (TECH): Lost 7.3% following a disappointing presentation at the BofA Securities 2025 Healthcare Conference. The biotech firm faced issues with diagnostic reagent and control order timing, and warned of potential tariff impacts [1].
- Revvity (RVTY): Dropped 5.9% after a similar conference appearance. Despite touting strength in its diagnostics and software businesses, Revvity may confront tariff-related challenges, particularly in China [1].
- IQVIA Holdings (IQV): Also saw a 5.9% decline at the BofA conference. The analytics, technology, and research services provider mentioned pressure on bookings due to clients delaying purchasing decisions in the uncertain macroeconomic environment [1].
Palantir (PLTR) shares reaching a fresh high on Wednesday were driven by increased risk appetite and investor enthusiasm for AI stocks following the U.S.-China trade agreement and optimistic bank analysis [2].
The Nasdaq, after a 30% surge since its April 7 low, is now just shy of its yearly start. The Dow, while further away from breaking even, is showing promising signs [1]. CSCO, Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Alphabet (GOOG), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), and Broadcom (AVGO) all made notable moves, but details are needed to discuss specifics [1].
References:[1] MarketWatch. (2025, May 16). Dow falls as investors shrug off gains from tech-heavy Nasdaq, S&P 500. Retrieved May 17, 2025, from [https://www.marketwatch.com/story/dow-falls-as-investors-shrug-off-gains-from-tech-heavy-nasdaq-s-p-500-2025-05-16][2] Investor's Business Daily. (2025, May 16). Palantir Levels To Watch As Stock Hits Another Record High. Retrieved May 17, 2025, from [https://www.investors.com/news/palantir-pltr-stock-highest-ever-principia-technical-analysis/][3] Barron's. (2025, May 17). Biggest S&P 500 Movers on Wednesday. Retrieved May 17, 2025, from [https://www.barrons.com/articles/sp-500-movers-wednesday-super-micro-computer-enphase-energy-advanced-micro-devices-51626103980]
- Despite the positive momentum in the stock-market, particularly the Nasdaq, some investors are turning towards cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and the wider crypto market, sparking a renewed interest in defi and ICOs.
- With the increase in risk appetite, some investors are now eyeing technical analysis for trading in Bitcoin, as they believe the U.S.-China trade deal and positive bank analysis could lead to further price surges.
- The strong performance of companies like Super Micro Computer and Enphase Energy in the traditional finance sector could potentially provide a blueprint for successful token sales in the crypto market.
- As International Paper and Packaging Corp. of America continue to rise in the stock-market, there are discussions about whether similar growth could be replicated in the crypto projects that focus on sustainable and efficient energy usage.
- The issues faced by Bio-Techne and Revvity in the biotech sector, such as tariff impacts and delayed purchasing decisions, could serve as cautionary tales for crypto projects facing similar challenges in gaining market cap and investor appeal.
- While stocks like CSCO, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Alphabet, Apple, Amazon, and Broadcom are making significant moves in the stock-market, there is also a growing interest in understanding how the technology these companies possess could be leveraged in the crypto and defi space to drive further innovation and growth.
