Markets surge to record highs

Market Trends & Performance - Wall Street indexes including the Dow and the S&P closed at new record highs, with the S&P closing above 7,700 for the first time [1] - Markets were primarily driven by positive corporate earnings and optimism regarding declining oil prices [1][3] - US crude oil prices dropped by more than $5 per barrel to approximately $75, driven by expectations that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen [3] Corporate Earnings & Financial Highlights - Caterpillar shares increased by more than $46 per share, supported by the construction of AI data centers [2] - Defense contractor Palantir reported exceptional earnings with its share price rising by $37 [2] - Microsoft shares rose by more than $100 per share following its quarterly earnings report released the previous week [3]