Investors were initially caught off guard Tuesday by a sweeping revision to U.S. employment data, after the Bureau of Labor Statistics removed 911,000 nonfarm payroll jobs from its count between April 2024 and March 2025, indicating the labor market had been cooling far earlier than many on Wall Street had anticipated.
UNH shares are climbing. See what is driving the move here.
Markets briefly dipped in the wake of the data release. Yet, major U.S. equity indices showed some recovery by midday in New York as the sharp downward revision in payrolls further strengthens the case for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates.
The S&P 500 traded 0.2% higher near 6,500 points, about 0.5% off its all-time high, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% at 45,640 points, positioning itself for a potential record close.
Energy stocks outperformed as oil prices rose in response to renewed geopolitical tensions as Israel, with U.S. approval, launched a strike on Hamas operatives in Qatar.
After four consecutive sessions of declines, U.S. Treasury yields edged higher. The 30-year yield rose by four basis points to 4.72%.
UnitedHealth Inc. (NYSE:UNH) soared more than 8% after the health care giant offered an upbeat assessment of its Medicare Advantage business. The company said it expects roughly 78% of its Medicare Advantage members to be in plans rated four stars or higher.
The company also reaffirmed its full-year 2025 earnings outlook, offering reassurance to investors following recent sector volatility tied to reimbursement changes.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was flat ahead of the company’s highly-awaited “Awe Dropping” event in which the new iPhone 17 lineup will be unveiled.
Gold prices rose 0.3% to $3,650 per ounce, marking the ninth gain in the past 10 sessions. Gold futures broke above the $3,700 for the first time ever in the intraday trading, before slightly pulling back to $3,680. The yellow metal continues to benefit from rising geopolitical risk and expectations of lower interest rates.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) fell 1% to $111,000.
Tuesday’s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs
| Major Indices | Price | 1-day %chg |
| • Nasdaq 100 | 23,831.86 | 0.3% |
| • Dow Jones | 45,643.14 | 0.3% |
| • S&P 500 | 6,505.99 | 0.2% |
| • Russell 2000 | 2,374.51 | -0.9% |
According to Benzinga Pro data:
- The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:VOO) inched 0.1% higher to $597.14.
- The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE:DIA) rose 0.2% to $457.21.
- The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:QQQ) rose 0.2% to $579.98.
- The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:IWM) slipped 0.9% to $236.22.
- The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLE) outperformed, up 1.1%; the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLB) lagged, down 1.2%.
S&P 500’s Top 5 Gainers On Tuesday
| Stock Name | % Change |
|---|---|
| UnitedHealth Group Inc. | +8.30% |
| Super Micro Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:SMCI) | +5.95% |
| Centene Corp. (NYSE:CNC) | +5.63% |
| Amphenol Corp. (NYSE:APH) | +5.44% |
| Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) | +4.05% |
S&P 500’s Top 5 Losers On Tuesday
| Stock Name | % Change |
|---|---|
| Albemarle Corp. (NYSE:ALB) | -11.10% |
| Builders FirstSource Inc. (NYSE:BLDR) | -6.22% |
| Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX) | -5.86% |
| Fox Corp. (NASDAQ:FOX) | -5.64% |
| BXP Inc. (NYSE:BXP) | -4.44% |
Now Read:
- Apple’s ‘Awe Dropping’ Event: 5 Biggest iPhone 17 Changes Expected
Photo: khunkornStudio via Shutterstock
