Markets opened the final week of April on a cautious but slightly constructive note, with the major indices finishing in mixed territory. The S&P 500 added 0.17% to close at 7,158.85, while the Russell 2000 kept pace with a 0.18% gain to 2,760.31 — both suggesting modest risk appetite among investors to start the week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was the lone major index to close in the red, slipping 0.08% to 48,873.15, weighed in part by Apple's decline. The Nasdaq managed a slim 0.05% gain to 24,111.55, a muted move that reflected a tug-of-war between tech bulls and sellers rotating out of consumer-facing names.
Nvidia was the clear standout of the session, jumping 4.00% to $216.61 and providing meaningful support to the broader tech complex. The chip giant continues to act as a bellwether for AI-driven sentiment on Wall Street. Meanwhile, gold pushed to $4,694.4, underscoring persistent demand for safe-haven assets even as equities held their ground.
Overall, Monday's session felt like a market in a holding pattern — digesting recent gains, watching macro signals, and positioning ahead of a heavy slate of earnings and economic data due later in the week.