US Stocks Rise on Earnings Digests

US stock markets gained ground on Thursday, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 set for a recovery as investors analyzed big tech earnings and anticipated Apple (AAPL) results for insights into the industry's prospects.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) surged 0.4%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) added 0.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) barely made headway.

Following the Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates, investors shifted focus to earnings reports, particularly the initial wave from the "Magnificent Seven" companies that have driven overall stock market gains. Markets showed resilience in the tech sector after earnings announcements from Microsoft (MSFT), Meta (META), and Tesla (TSLA) late Wednesday. Attention turned to their justifications for massive AI investments in light of concerns raised by DeepSeek's more economical AI model.

Tesla shares rose despite falling short of earnings estimates, as investors trusted its promise to resume growth in 2025. Meta's quarterly earnings exceeded expectations, boosting its pre-market stock value, while Microsoft's shares slipped following weaker-than-expected cloud revenue. Apple (AAPL), whose stock has faced downgrades, is next in line to report. Investors will scrutinize its quarterly results for signs of improved iPhone sales.

Other notable companies scheduled to report earnings include chipmaker Intel (INTC), Comcast (CMCSA), Mastercard (MA), and Visa (V).

The Bureau of Economic Analysis's preliminary estimate of fourth-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) indicated that the US economy grew at an annualized rate of 2.3%, below the 2.6% projection by economists polled by Bloomberg.

Meanwhile, a collision between an American Airlines (AAL) passenger jet and a US army helicopter made headlines. The mid-air crash occurred as the plane approached Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night.

Key Stories:

* American Airlines CEO Expresses Heartbreak After Fatal Crash
* Stocks Mixed as Investors Digest Big Tech Earnings
* GDP: US Economy Grows at Slower-than-Expected Pace in Fourth Quarter
* Tesla Stock Rises Despite Miss, Amid Vow to Return to Growth
* Powell Holds Interest Rates and Maintains Cautious Inflationary Stance
* Microsoft and Meta Defend AI Spend Amid DeepSeek Fallout
* The New Battle for Tesla Investors
* Levi's Faces Challenges from Department Store Closures
* Nvidia Bulls Buy the Dip Amid Concerns
* Meh Earnings Call for Microsoft Raises Concerns About Growth