Market Review – Week Ending May 2, 2025

The past trading week saw a strong global rally across equity markets. Most major indices posted solid gains, driven by upbeat corporate earnings, positive macroeconomic signals, and a generally optimistic sentiment for the second quarter of the year.

United States – Strong Gains Across All Major Indices

• S&P 500 surged by 2.85%, closing at 5,686.67, with broad-based strength led by the tech and financial sectors.
• Nasdaq 100 jumped 3.45% to 20,102.61, fueled by better-than-expected earnings from leading technology firms.
• Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 2.85% to 41,317.43, supported by gains in industrials and banks.
• Russell 2000, representing small-cap stocks, rose 3.08%, indicating broader market participation beyond the large-cap names.

Europe – Broad-Based Rally Across the Continent

• EURO STOXX 50 gained 3.20%, reaching 5,285.19, reflecting improved economic sentiment across the Eurozone.
• Germany’s DAX led the pack with an impressive 3.94% rise to 23,086.65, buoyed by industrial growth data and strong exporter performance.
• France’s CAC 40 added 2.71%, while the UK’s FTSE 100 rose 2.15%.
• STOXX Europe 600, a broader index of European equities, climbed 3.27%, signaling pan-European bullish momentum.

Asia – Japan Leads the Region’s Gains

• Nikkei 225 rallied 4.08% to 36,830.69, the largest weekly gain among major global indices, driven by robust industrial data and export expectations.
• Hang Seng in Hong Kong advanced 1.92%, with investors cautiously optimistic amid geopolitical concerns.

Israel – Modest Gains Compared to Global Peers

• TA-35 Index rose 1.04% to 2,517.98.
• TA-125 Index added 0.90%, closing at 2,557.21.

Gains in Israeli markets were more moderate, likely due to ongoing political and security uncertainties, as well as focus on local inflation trends.

Summary

Markets globally delivered a strong performance this week, led by tech in the U.S., industrials in Europe, and Japanese equities. The overall tone remains cautiously optimistic heading into the next quarter. However, challenges remain, including concerns over economic slowdowns, central bank policy outlooks, and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Asia.