U.S. stock exchanges traded in different directions this Wednesday (22), with investors following the release of quarterly results from Alphabet and Tesla, two of the market's largest technology companies. At the same time, new trade tariffs announced by current U.S. President Donald Trump, and the sharp rise in oil continued to influence investor sentiment.
The S&P 500 today advanced 0,16%, to 7.521,18 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0,35%, to 52.409,30 points. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite, more concentrated in technology companies, fell 0,15%, to 25.798,39 points, reflecting caution ahead of the release of the sector giants' earnings.
Among smaller-cap companies, the Russell 2000 fell 0,60%, to 2.969,60 points, indicating lower appetite for higher-risk assets. The volatility index VIX, known as Wall Street's "fear index," was retreating 1,47%, to 16,80 points, suggesting that the market still maintains a relatively controlled perception of short-term risks.
In addition to stocks, other markets were also posting important moves. gold was rising 1,94%, trading at US$ 4.155,40, extending its gains amid a search for protection in the face of geopolitical tensions. Bitcoin was trading at US$ 66.164,47, down 0,52%, following profit-taking after the recent appreciation of the market's leading cryptocurrency.
Meanwhile, the September crude oil contract was rising 2,48%, to US$ 86,43 per barrel, driven by the continuation of the conflict in the Middle East and concerns about the commodity's global supply.
The market's main focus remains on earnings season. Alphabet and Tesla will report their second-quarter results after the close of trading, being the first members of the so-called "Magnificent Seven" to present their numbers this season.
In Alphabet's case, investors are closely watching whether the high investments in artificial intelligence are beginning to generate sufficient returns to justify the billions of dollars allocated to expanding this area. The performance of the cloud division and digital advertising will also be closely watched.
Tesla, in turn, arrives at earnings at a moment of great expectations regarding its investments in autonomous vehicles, robotics, and artificial intelligence. The market is looking for signs of how the company intends to accelerate its automation strategy under Elon Musk's leadership.
Other companies also moved the trading session. Shares of Supermicro posted a strong rise after the manufacturer of servers geared toward artificial intelligence announced a record order backlog, driven by growing demand for AI infrastructure.
IBM was also among the day's highlights, with the release of its results scheduled for after the market close. Expectations are high after an earlier warning triggered a sharp drop in the company's shares last week.
Meanwhile, GE Vernova reported revenue above analysts' estimates and reported continued growth in its order backlog. Despite this, earnings per share came in below expectations, limiting a stronger performance of the shares.
In the field of trade policy, the current president of the United States, Donald Trump, continues expanding his tariff agenda. The government signaled that it intends to replace the temporary global tariffs of 10% with permanent rates for various products, including a possible tariff of 100% on imported generic medicines. In addition, a tariff of 25% on Brazilian products, a measure that once again drew the attention of international markets, came into effect this Wednesday.
The market also remained attentive to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The United States began its 11th consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed Congress that American spending on the war has already reached US$ 37,5 billion, a factor that contributed to oil's strong appreciation throughout the trading session.