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US markets recover, led by technology firms
US equity markets recorded a recovery at the close, primarily bolstered by gains in the semiconductor and software sectors. Key drivers included Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), which announced a multi-year collaboration with Meta, and Intel, following its partnership with the AI-chip startup SambaNova. Furthermore, Home Depot shares edged higher after the company reported Q4 2025 financial results that exceeded analyst expectations.
US indices finished the session in positive territory, driven by a rebound in semiconductor and software equities.
A White House Official indicated that the US administration is moving to implement a global tariff capped at 15%.
Home Depot shares rose approximately 2% after the retailer reported Q4 2025 revenue and earnings per share (EPS) that outperformed consensus forecasts.
Semiconductor and software firms drive daily market rebound in US indices
US stock indices recovered from the previous session's losses, supported by a rally in technology stocks. The S&P 500 rose 0.70% to 6,886 points, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.78% to 49,183, and the Nasdaq 100 appreciated by 1.00% to close at 24,958 points.
Notable gains were concentrated in the semiconductor space, specifically with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Intel Corp. AMD shares surged 8.77% to $213.84 following the announcement of a multi-year agreement with Meta Platforms. This collaboration focuses on the supply of graphics processing units (GPUs) for Meta’s AI-driven data centres. Similarly, Intel Corp. shares climbed 5.71% to $46.12 after the firm announced a partnership with the AI-chip startup SambaNova, aimed at capturing the rising demand for inference chips within Artificial Intelligence applications.
Additionally, software equities saw a daily appreciation, with companies such as IBM (+2.5%), DocuSign (+2.4%), Adobe (+3.41%), and Salesforce (+4%) in gains. Software stocks have faced pressure in recent weeks due to mounting concerns that AI applications could eventually displace core business functions traditionally managed by these firms.
Figure 1. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (2023–2026). Source: Data from the Nasdaq Exchange; Figure obtained from TradingView.
Trump administration advances implementation of new tariff round
According to reports from Reuters, a White House Official stated that the Trump administration is currently working to establish a 15% temporary global tariff. This move comes as a response to a Supreme Court ruling that deemed previous bilateral tariffs illegal. The administration is reportedly invoking the Trade Act of 1974 to provide a legal framework for these global emergency tariffs. While market participants view these updates as significant, the official noted that specific details regarding the timing of implementation remain unavailable.
Home Depot shares gain on stronger-than-expected quarterly results
Home Depot shares appreciated by approximately 2% following the release of better-than-expected Q4 2025 financial results, closing at $384.48. The retail giant reported total revenue of $38.20 billion, marginally surpassing the $38.14 billion anticipated by analysts. Furthermore, the company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $2.72, exceeding the analyst estimate of $2.54.
Although these results represent an annual revenue decline of 3.8% and an EPS contraction of 13% (YoY), investors reacted positively. The 2% appreciation suggests that market participants are pricing in the current economic headwinds and viewing the beat against expectations as a sign of relative resilience.
