Stocks Push Higher Amid Simmering Trade Tensions

Stocks are rallying this afternoon, with both Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) up triple digits -- the latter lifted by strong gains in megacap tech stocks like Nvidia (NVDA), Meta Platforms (META), Amazon.com (AMZN), Tesla (TSLA), and Microsoft (MSFT). All three major indexes are on track for third-straight gains.

Despite the bounce, sentiment remains fragile. China said no trade talks are currently underway and called for the cancellation of “unilateral” U.S. tariffs -- a sharp contrast to recent remarks from President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggesting a more constructive tone. Meanwhile, March existing home sales dropped to their lowest level since 2009, even as home prices hit a new record.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including: 

• Unpacking Comcast's subscriber decline.
• 2 blue-chip stocks moving lower after earnings.
• Plus, Chipotle's sales miss; NOW in rally mode; and TAL tumbles on weak results.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (NYSE:CMG) stock is seeing unusual options activity, with 58,000 calls and 70,000 puts traded so far today -- 5 times the average intraday amount. Investors are opening new positions at the top three most popular contracts, led by the weekly 5/30 43-strike put. CMG was last seen 0.9% higher to trade at $49.16, but still sports an 18% year-to-date deficit and slid earlier after the company's first-quarter revenue miss, first same-store sales drop since 2020, and slashed sales forecast. 

ServiceNow Inc (NYSE:NOW) is one of the best-performing SPX components today, up 14.6% at $931.13 at last check on strong first-quarter results. The software name shared adjusted earnings of $4.04 per share on $3.09 billion in revenue, beating estimates. This bull gap placed NOW at its highest level since February, and helped it reclaim its 50-day moving average. The security is up 25.2% in the last 12 months but remains below its Jan. 28, all-time high of $1,198.09.

TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL) is one of the worst performing stocks this afternoon, last seen down 16.7% at $9.15, and on pace to snap its four-day win streak with its worst day since 2022. The Chinese education name missed top- and bottom-line expectations for its fiscal fourth quarter. Despite 42.1% year-over-year revenue growth, the earnings miss and ongoing regulatory overhang spooked investors. TAL is down 8.6% in 2025.