US Markets Close Higher Amid Trade Uncertainty; Nvidia Outperforms

U.S. equities edged higher Thursday, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.4% as Nvidia’s robust earnings offset trade policy jitters. The chipmaker’s shares surged nearly 3% after reporting a 73% year-over-year jump in data center revenue, overshadowing an anticipated $8 billion China-related sales hit.

Trade tensions resurfaced after conflicting court rulings on Trump-era EU tariffs. A federal appeals court reinstated the levies hours after another court deemed them unlawful, creating fresh uncertainty for markets. The Dow added 127 points despite Salesforce’s 3.4% drop on weak results.

Investors remain cautious as reciprocal tariff threats compound inflation concerns. Retailers including Best Buy flagged trade policies as headwinds, though tech strength prevented broader declines. The Nasdaq climbed 0.39% as AI momentum overshadowed trade volatility.