Wall Street Rebounds, Eli Lilly Rallies, UnitedHealth Group Plummets: What's Driving Markets Thursday?
Benzinga·2025-04-17 18:05

Market Overview - Wall Street experienced a rebound in risk appetite ahead of the Easter weekend, driven by positive signals from President Trump regarding trade negotiations with the EU and China [1] - The S&P 500 rose by 0.9%, while the Nasdaq 100 increased by 0.5%, recovering from a previous 3% decline [2] - The Dow Jones fell by 0.9%, primarily due to a significant 23% drop in UnitedHealth Group Inc. after the company reduced its full-year earnings forecast [2] Sector Performance - Energy stocks led the gains for the day, supported by rising oil prices, with Exxon Mobil Corp. increasing by 4.1% and Chevron Corp. advancing by 3.5% [2] - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust rose by 0.8% to $530.09, while the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.7% to $394.05 [7] - The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund outperformed with a 3.5% increase, while the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund lagged, down 0.1% [7] Notable Stock Movements - Eli Lilly Inc. surged by 16% after announcing successful Phase 3 trials for its oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, Orforglipron [7] - Fidelity National Information Services jumped by 9% following a $13.5 billion acquisition of Global Payments Inc.'s Issuer Solutions business, expected to generate over $125 million in annual revenue synergies [7] - Companies reacting to earnings reports included American Express Co. up 0.5%, Blackstone Inc. up 1.9%, and Charles Schwab Corp. up 2.7% [7] - Netflix Inc. rose by 2% ahead of its earnings report scheduled for release after market close [7]