U.S. Stock Markets Rally Despite Turbulent Trading Day

NEW YORK, NY — Major U.S. equity indexes rallied in the final hours of trading on Friday, closing higher after fluctuating between gains and losses throughout much of the day. Early gains were noted following a tame inflation report, but tensions escalated after a contentious meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky threatened to disrupt a potential mineral rights deal.

The S&P 500 rose 1.6 percent during the last trading session of February, although it still posted a monthly decline of 1.4 percent. The Nasdaq Composite also advanced by 1.6 percent but finished February approximately 4 percent lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged by more than 600 points, ending the day up 1.4 percent, marking a positive week despite a month-end decline.

AES led the S&P 500 with an impressive gain of 11.7 percent. This surge followed the announcement that the company surpassed quarterly earnings expectations and projected strong profits for the current year. AES attributed its growth to demand stemming from AI data centers and new manufacturing plants. The company is also working to onshore its supply chain for solar panels, batteries, and related equipment to mitigate tariff risks.

Shares of Edison International increased by 6 percent when it was revealed that California’s Wildfire Insurance Fund could provide stability to the utility’s balance sheet in light of the devastating wildfires in January.

Erie Indemnity‘s shares jumped 5.7 percent after the insurance provider exceeded analyst earnings expectations, benefitting from robust growth in both operating and investment income. Despite rising commission expenses, the increase in management fee revenue from policy issuances and renewals was noteworthy.

Monster Beverage saw its stock rise 5.3 percent following a slight revenue growth beat. Executives indicated the company’s readiness to compete with Celsius Holdings, which has recently acquired a rival brand.

Conversely, NetApp—which partners with Nvidia—led the S&P 500 decliners, with a sharp decline of 15.6 percent due to revenue that fell short of forecasts and a weakened sales outlook. HP shares dipped by 6.8 percent amid tariff concerns impacting costs, despite the company’s plans to diversify its supply chain outside of China by year’s end.

Dell Technologies also saw a downturn, with shares falling 4.7 percent following earnings that disappointed despite solid performance in server revenue fueled by AI demand. The shares’ decline aligns with broader market movements, which experienced volatility earlier in the day.

The fluctuations in the stock indexes reflect ongoing investor concerns regarding geopolitical tensions and economic indicators. Despite a mixed performance over February, Friday’s rally provided some optimism for the coming month.