U.S. stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq climb on US–Japan deal as Tesla, Google, and meme stocks take center stage
US Stock Market Soars on Trump's US–Japan Trade Deal, Tesla and Alphabet Earnings in Focus- US stock market today is on a bullish run, thanks to a major breakthrough in trade negotiations between the United States and Japan. President Donald Trump's announcement of a sweeping U.S.–Japan trade agreement sparked optimism across global financial markets. Investors are also gearing up for big earnings reports from Tesla and Alphabet (Google's parent company), adding more fuel to Wednesday's momentum. Dow Jones Industrial Average: ▲ +250 points (+0.6%) The Dow climbed steadily, driven by strong earnings and optimism from the U.S.–Japan trade deal.
▲ +250 points (+0.6%) The Dow climbed steadily, driven by strong earnings and optimism from the U.S.–Japan trade deal. S&P 500: ▲ +0.4% Broad market gains continued as tech and industrials led the way, pushing the index near record highs.
▲ +0.4% Broad market gains continued as tech and industrials led the way, pushing the index near record highs. Nasdaq Composite: ▲ +0.3% Modest gains were fueled by anticipation of key earnings from Tesla and Alphabet, keeping tech investors engaged.
▲ +0.3% Modest gains were fueled by anticipation of key earnings from Tesla and Alphabet, keeping tech investors engaged. Russell 2000 (Small Caps): ▲ +0.9% Smaller U.S. companies rallied sharply on hopes of improved trade conditions and domestic economic momentum.
▲ +0.9% Smaller U.S. companies rallied sharply on hopes of improved trade conditions and domestic economic momentum. CBOE Volatility Index (VIX): ▼ -4%
Market volatility eased, reflecting investor confidence and steady bullish sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all posted early gains in Wednesday's trading session. Market sentiment turned positive following news that President Trump had finalized a significant trade deal with Japan, easing months of tariff tensions.
Dow Jones surged by over 250 points , or 0.6% , climbing closer to its all-time high.
surged by over , or , climbing closer to its all-time high. S&P 500 gained approximately 0.4% , continuing its upward trajectory.
gained approximately , continuing its upward trajectory. Nasdaq Composite rose 0.3%, supported by investor anticipation around tech earnings. Futures had already pointed to a higher open before the bell, and the bullish sentiment carried through the session. According to RTTNews, the biggest movers in pre-market trading on July 23, 2025, were: Pineapple Financial (PAPL) : +153% at ~$8.87
: +153% at ~$8.87 GoPro (GPRO) : +50% at ~$2.06
: +50% at ~$2.06 Vicor Corp (VICR) : +46% at ~$66.44
: +46% at ~$66.44 OFA Group (OFAL) : +41% at ~$2.44
: +41% at ~$2.44 Krispy Kreme (DNUT): +40% at ~$5.80 In after-hours trading, StockAnalysis.com confirms continued momentum:
ABVAX surged ~470% (!)
surged ~470% (!) OFA Group +70%, GoPro +60%, Vicor +33%, Krispy Kreme +35% The centerpiece of the market rally is President Trump's new trade deal with Japan. The agreement, finalized in Tokyo, includes several significant economic changes: Auto tariffs reduced to 15%, giving American and Japanese carmakers room to breathe.
$550 billion Japanese investment commitment into American manufacturing and infrastructure.
A renewed five-year economic cooperation framework, focusing on tech innovation, supply chain resilience, and AI research. This comprehensive deal is being hailed as a win for U.S. manufacturing, auto exports, and the broader global economy. The announcement has already sparked a 3.5% jump in Japan's Nikkei index and buoyed markets across Europe, including the Euro Stoxx 600, which rose nearly 1%.
Wall Street is also laser-focused on Q2 earnings reports from two tech giants — Tesla (TSLA) and Alphabet (GOOGL) — scheduled for after-market hours. Tesla's revenue is expected to drop more than 10% year-over-year.
Analysts are watching closely for updates on EV demand, Cybertruck production, and robotaxi deployment.
Any commentary from Elon Musk on China market strategy and AI software development could move the stock. Tesla shares are volatile going into earnings, with many traders bracing for either a sharp rally or steep correction. Alphabet is projected to deliver solid growth in advertising and cloud services.
YouTube ad revenue and Google Cloud profits are likely to be major focus areas.
Investors are also watching closely for updates on Gemini AI, Google's answer to ChatGPT, and its rollout impact on enterprise adoption. Alphabet shares have been relatively stable, but a strong report could lift the broader tech sector. Several retail-favorite stocks made unexpected surges as meme-stock momentum returned to markets: GoPro (GPRO) spiked by nearly 50% after retail traders drove heavy volume.
spiked by nearly after retail traders drove heavy volume. Krispy Kreme (DNUT) surged over 30% , following viral buzz on Reddit and TikTok.
surged over , following viral buzz on Reddit and TikTok. Kohl's (KSS) and Opendoor (OPEN) also saw double-digit gains, driven by short squeezes and social media hype. This sudden revival of meme stock rallies mirrors the 2021 retail trading craze and could introduce more volatility in the days ahead. On the downside, Texas Instruments saw a steep drop of 11% after releasing guidance that pointed to sluggish analog chip demand. The chipmaker's cautious outlook contrasts with broader optimism in the semiconductor space. GE Vernova , an energy subsidiary of General Electric, saw modest gains after reporting strong results.
, an energy subsidiary of General Electric, saw modest gains after reporting strong results. Oil prices climbed over 1% amid expectations that improved trade relations would boost global demand.
amid expectations that improved trade relations would boost global demand. The Russell 2000 small-cap index also advanced by 0.8%–1%, a sign of increased investor confidence in the domestic economy. The U.S.–Japan agreement sent ripple effects across global markets: Tokyo's Nikkei 225 jumped 3.6%, its best single-day gain in months.
jumped 3.6%, its best single-day gain in months. FTSE 100 in London rose 0.9% as commodity stocks rallied.
in London rose 0.9% as commodity stocks rallied. Shanghai Composite climbed 0.5%, though trade with China remains a concern amid ongoing tech tensions. European officials are reportedly seeking counter-deals with Washington, and negotiations may begin in Brussels later this week. Major trade breakthrough between two top economies
Anticipation of strong tech earnings
Renewed retail investor momentum in meme stocks Volatility likely after Tesla and Alphabet earnings
Chip sector weakness could weigh on broader tech
Trade tensions with Europe and China still unresolved Tesla and Alphabet earnings due after the market close (July 23).
due after the market close (July 23). GDP and inflation data set for release on Friday (July 25).
set for release on Friday (July 25). Federal Reserve's next interest rate decision expected on July 31. Investors should also watch for continued developments around the U.S.–Japan deal implementation, including possible reactions from EU trade officials and domestic industries impacted by tariff revisions. The stock market today, July 23, 2025, shows strong positive momentum, driven by renewed trade optimism and key tech earnings on the horizon. With President Trump securing a major economic agreement with Japan, investors are hopeful that geopolitical stability and policy clarity will continue to support the market's upward march. However, much depends on how tech giants like Tesla and Alphabet perform in their earnings and how central banks respond to macroeconomic data. Stay tuned — the second half of the trading week could set the tone for the rest of the quarter. Q1: What are the top stocks to watch today like Apple, Tesla, and Nvidia? A1: Apple, Tesla, and Nvidia are leading today's market with strong performance and investor buzz.
Q2: Why is Nvidia a top stock in 2025 for AI growth? A2: Nvidia is dominating the AI chip space, making it one of 2025's top-performing stocks.
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