Nasdaq 100 and S&P500: AMD–Meta Deal Lifts Tech as Software Stocks Stage Recovery

Group 1: Software Stocks Performance - Major indices were boosted by significant increases in software-related stocks, with Salesforce and ServiceNow both rising by 3% and the iShares Expanded Tech – Software Sector ETF (IGV) gaining 2%, although it remains over 30% lower than its 52-week peak [1] - Retail clients are cautious and waiting for new AI product announcements, interpreting news about Anthropic as competition for legacy applications, which has contributed to a less aggressive market upturn [2] Group 2: Earnings Season Insights - Home Depot exceeded expectations for its fourth quarter, reporting better EPS and revenue, leading to a 2.7% increase in its stock [3] - Keysight Technologies experienced a significant stock surge of 15% after reporting better earnings per share and revenue, while Hims & Hers Health's stock fell nearly 7% due to lower than expected first quarter revenue guidance [4] - Diamondback Energy's stock declined by 3% following the release of lower than expected adjusted earnings [4] Group 3: Economic Concerns - The 10% tariff imposed by the U.S. has raised concerns about its impact on other economies, with speculation that President Trump may increase the tariff to 15%, leading to a risk-averse stance among investors [5]