US Markets Climb as Trump Signals Optimism on Trade Deals with UK and China -

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New York, Thursday — Wall Street ended the trading session on a high note Thursday as U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with the United Kingdom and expressed optimism ahead of a pivotal weekend of trade talks with China. The positive momentum helped extend the market’s winning streak, marking two consecutive days in the green.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 254 points, or 0.62%, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.58%. The Nasdaq Composite, bolstered by strong performances in technology stocks, rose 1.07%. Although the indices eased slightly from their intraday highs as the closing bell neared, the day still closed with notable gains across the board.

Chris Zaccarelli, Chief Investment Officer at Northlight Asset Management, attributed the rally to investor enthusiasm over signs of de-escalation in global trade tensions. “A trade agreement — even if it’s an agreement in principle — is what the markets were looking to see,” he noted.

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Investors responded with a “risk-on” approach, moving funds into equities and cryptocurrencies while retreating from traditional safe havens such as gold and U.S. Treasury bonds. Notably, Bitcoin surged past $101,000, reaching a level not seen since February. At the same time, gold prices dipped 2%, falling below $3,300 a troy ounce.

Meanwhile, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose above 4.37%, signaling a sell-off in government bonds as risk appetite returned.

The morning trading session was relatively subdued, with stocks initially wavering amid uncertainty. However, sentiment turned decisively positive after President Trump addressed reporters at the White House. “You better go out and buy stock now,” Trump declared. “Let me tell you, this country will be like a rocket ship that goes straight up.”

In response to questions about whether tariffs on China could be reduced following successful trade discussions this weekend, Trump replied, “Well, it could be… we’re going to see.” He added, “Right now, you can’t get any higher. It’s at 145, so we know it’s coming down. I think we’re going to have a very good relationship.”

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The markets appeared to take Trump’s tone as a bullish signal, reinforcing the upward momentum seen across risk assets. CNN’s Fear and Greed Index, a widely followed sentiment gauge, spiked to its highest level since early December, shifting firmly from “fear” territory into “greed.”

Adding to the upbeat atmosphere was news of a finalized U.S.-U.K. trade deal, which Trump touted as a success. Though specifics remain sparse, analysts see the agreement as politically and economically symbolic.

Sarah Bianchi, Senior Managing Director at Evercore ISI, provided some context. “The UK is a relatively small trading partner and one where the US runs a merchandise surplus, making it a relatively easy case to strike a deal,” she explained. However, she also warned against overestimating its broader implications. “A key takeaway from the US-UK trade deal is that the 10% baseline tariff remains. If the UK isn’t getting down to zero, it is very unlikely that anyone is.”

Despite uncertainties surrounding the enforcement and depth of the trade agreements, analysts suggest that even tentative progress is sufficient for now to keep the market rally alive. Robert Ruggirello, Chief Investment Officer at Brave Eagle Wealth Management, remarked, “Even though there are still questions remaining about the mechanics of this trade deal and how soon we will see other deals, the positive headline is enough to keep the stock market’s recovery going.”

As markets prepare for the weekend’s critical developments in U.S.-China negotiations, investor attention remains sharply focused on trade and the tone coming from the White House could continue to shape market direction in the days ahead.