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Wall Street Closes Higher as S&P 500 Hits New Record

Ignacio Teson•Thursday, February 20, 2025•2 min read

U.S. stocks closed higher on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 reaching a new all-time high, despite uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.16% to 44,627.59, while the S&P 500 rose 0.24% to 6,144.15. The Nasdaq Composite edged up 0.07% to 20,056.25.

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SPX

Markets Weigh Tariffs and Fed Outlook

Trump reiterated plans to impose 25% tariffs on automobiles, along with similar levies on semiconductors and pharmaceutical imports, adding to concerns over global trade tensions.

Investors also analyzed minutes from the latest Federal Reserve (Fed) meeting, where officials cited inflation risks, trade policy uncertainty, and potential supply chain disruptions as key concerns.

Microsoft Leads Gains Amid Quantum Computing Breakthrough

Microsoft shares climbed 1.25% after unveiling its first quantum computing chip, based on topological qubit technology, which could enable commercial quantum computers to solve complex problems in years rather than decades.

Sector Performance

The healthcare sector (+1.26%) and consumer staples (+0.79%) led gains, while materials (-1.16%) saw the steepest losses.

Within the Dow Jones, Merck (+2.77%) and UnitedHealth (+2.06%) were the top performers.

Oil Market Close

International oil prices rose slightly on Wednesday following Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, which could contribute to a long-term reduction in crude supply.

USOIL

In London, Brent crude for April delivery gained 0.26%, closing at $76.04 per barrel.

In New York, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for March delivery rose 0.56% to $72.25 per barrel.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Ignacio Teson
Ignacio Teson
Economist and Financial Analyst
Ignacio Teson is an Economist and Financial Analyst. He has more than 7 years of experience in emerging markets. He worked as an analyst and market operator at brokerage firms in Argentina and Spain.
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