Major United States benchmark averages posted a mixed session on Friday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posting fresh record highs, supported by gains in technology stocks led by Apple, while oil prices eased at the start of a new trading month.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 152.87 points, or 0.31%, to 49,499.27. In contrast, the S&P 500 rose 21.11 points, or 0.29%, to finish at 7,230.12, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 222.13 points, or 0.89%, to 25,114.44.
Apple shares climbed 3.2% after the company issued a strong sales outlook, citing robust demand for its flagship iPhone 17 and MacBook Neo. The upbeat forecast helped lift broader technology stocks.
Software companies also posted notable gains after Atlassian raised its full-year forecast, with its shares surging 29.6%. The positive sentiment extended to peers, with Salesforce rising 4.1% and ServiceNow gaining 3.2%.
In contrast, Roblox tumbled 18.3% after cutting its annual bookings forecast, reflecting softer expectations for user spending.
Meanwhile, Reddit jumped 13.1% following an optimistic quarterly revenue outlook.
Energy stocks lagged as oil prices declined. Exxon Mobil fell 1% after reporting that quarterly profit was impacted by disruptions in the Middle East. Chevron slipped 1.4% despite beating earnings expectations, with overall profit falling to its lowest level in five years.
Oil markets came under pressure after reports that Iran had responded, via Pakistani mediators, to the latest U.S. proposals aimed at ending the Middle East conflict.
Later in the session, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the offer, stating that Iran “wants to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it”.
Crude prices pared earlier losses following those remarks but still ended lower. Brent crude fell 2% to $108.17 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures dropped 3% to settle at $101.94 per barrel.
The latest moves follow a strong run for equities, with the S&P 500 closing above the 7,200 level for the first time. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recorded their strongest monthly gains since 2020, while the Dow posted its best monthly performance since November 2024.
A solid first-quarter earnings season and optimism around a potential easing of geopolitical tensions have supported equities in 2026.
On the bond markets, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged 0.05% lower to 4.372%, while the 2-year yield rose 0.3% to 3.88%.
