2025.04.1720:02:24UTC+00Wall Street Mixed Ahead of Easter Holidays

U.S. stocks closed with varied results ahead of the Good Friday holiday, as investors deliberated the impact of trade negotiations and uncertainties surrounding interest rates. The S&P 500 saw a modest increase of 0.1%, driven by significant gains from Eli Lilly, which soared 14.3% following the successful performance of its weight-loss drug in comparison to Ozempic during a diabetes trial, and Apple, which experienced a 1.4% rebound. Conversely, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 527 points, primarily due to UnitedHealth's shares plunging 22.4% in response to a discouraging forecast. The Nasdaq 100 ended largely unchanged. Netflix experienced a 1.2% increase ahead of its forthcoming earnings announcement. Investor sentiment remained mixed as they evaluated President Trump's remarks about "substantial progress" in trade discussions with Japan and his drive to secure a deal with China. Concerns were heightened by tariff anxieties and Trump's renewed criticism of Federal Reserve Chairman Powell, including demands for rate cuts, further fueling the uncertainty. A decline in weekly jobless claims highlighted the labor market's resilience, though attention remained fixated on the direction of trade negotiations and monetary policy indications. Over the past week, both the Dow and Nasdaq fell by 2%, while the S&P 500 saw a 1% decline.