Markets rang in the second quarter with broad-based gains on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, as all four major indices closed in positive territory. The Nasdaq led the charge, climbing 1.24% to close at 21,210.45, while the S&P 500 added 0.75% to settle at 6,558.95. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.49% to 46,254.75, and the small-cap Russell 2000 gained 0.63% to finish at 2,485.62.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq's outperformance was driven in large part by Alphabet, which soared 3.42% to $297.39, signaling renewed investor appetite for large-cap growth stocks as portfolio managers repositioned for the new quarter. The broad participation across indices suggests this was more than a single-sector story — it was a confident Q2 opening statement from the market.
Gold continued to command attention, with the precious metal sitting at $4,780.99, reflecting ongoing demand for hard assets even as equities pushed higher. The combination of rising stocks and elevated gold prices paints a nuanced picture of investor sentiment — optimistic, but not without an undercurrent of caution.
Visa was the notable laggard among large caps, declining 1.23% to $298.51, a reminder that not every corner of the market participated equally in the April 1 rally.