NEW YORK, May 2 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- United States (US) stocks ended mixed on Friday, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq topping 25,000 for the first time on strong tech earnings and hopes for a West Asia breakthrough, reported Xinhua.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 152.87 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 49,499.27. The S&P 500 added 21.11 points, or 0.29 per cent, to 7,230.12. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 222.13 points, or 0.89 per cent, to 25,114.44.
Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in the red, with energy and industrials leading the laggards by losing 1.31 per cent and 0.93 per cent, respectively.
Meanwhile, technology and consumer discretionary led the gainers by adding 1.41 per cent and 0.51 per cent, respectively.
Friday's mixed close followed a historic month of April for Wall Street. The S&P 500 surged over 10 per cent during the month, marking its best showing since November 2020. The Nasdaq Composite jumped more than 15 per cent for its best month since April 2020.
Geopolitical developments provided a supportive backdrop for equities as global oil prices fell.
Energy markets retreated following reports that Iran had sent its response, via Pakistani mediators, to the US.
On the corporate front, investors continued to navigate a first-quarter earnings season that is proving remarkably resilient.
Apple climbed more than three per cent on Friday after the consumer tech giant posted its second-quarter earnings.
The company's better-than-expected revenue outlook for the current quarter overshadowed the fact that iPhone revenue fell short of estimates for the second time in three quarters.
Meanwhile, the energy sector faced headwinds despite high underlying commodity prices.
US oil supermajors Exxon Mobil and Chevron both beat quarterly earnings estimates but missed revenue expectations.
The top-line misses highlighted the tangible impacts of the regional conflict, as stymied production throughout West Asia and delayed oil deliveries stuck behind the Strait of Hormuz weighed heavily on overall energy sales.
-- BERNAMA-XINHUA
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