Encouraged by potential de-escalation of geopolitical tensions, U.S. stocks rallied across the board on the last trading day of Q1. The S&P 500 posted its largest single-day gain since the Middle East conflict erupted, the Dow surged 841 points, and the Nasdaq bounced 3.2%. NVIDIA announces Marvell stake and Unilever's $44.8 billion food business sale explained.
NI Editorial Team
Comprised of senior wealth management, global markets, and fintech professionals
On the last trading day of Q1 (3/31), global markets experienced a notable turning point. Encouraged by potential de-escalation of geopolitical tensions, U.S. stocks rallied across the board on Tuesday, with major indexes rebounding sharply from recent lows.
| Index | Change | Closing Level |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | +2.3% | — |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) | +1.9% (+841 pts) | 46,057.98 |
| Nasdaq Composite | +3.2% | — |
| CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) | Declined to 30.61 | Panic slightly reduced |
The S&P 500 posted its largest single-day gain since the Middle East conflict erupted; the Nasdaq was led higher by semiconductors and tech giants; the VIX (the "fear index") retreated, reflecting slightly reduced investor anxiety.
According to a Wall Street Journal exclusive, U.S. President Donald Trump signaled possible intentions to end military operations against Iran, viewed as a glimmer of de-escalation.
AI chip leader NVIDIA (NVDA) announced a $2 billion strategic investment in communications chip giant Marvell Technology (MRVL), forming a strategic partnership.
Spice giant McCormick (MKC) finalized a $44.8 billion deal (cash and stock) to acquire most of Unilever's food business, including the iconic Hellmann's brand and others.
This is one of the largest M&A deals in the food industry in recent years, marking Unilever's accelerated pivot toward its high-growth core business in personal care and home care.
CNN Business reported that U.S. hiring in February slowed to its lowest pace in 15 years outside the initial pandemic period:
FX Markets: The WSJ Dollar Index rose 0.82% for the quarter; yesterday it dipped 0.52% as safe-haven demand cooled, though the dollar remains in a relatively strong posture.
Bond Markets: The 10-year Treasury yield pulled back from highs to 4.30%; markets are holding their breath for tonight's (4/1) ADP National Employment Report.
Semiconductor Exports: With the U.S. considering restrictions on NVIDIA H200 chip sales in certain regions, Asian chip stocks (such as South Korea's SK Hynix) underperformed.
| Indicator | Description |
|---|---|
| ADP Non-Farm Employment | Preview of Friday's Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) direction |
| ISM Manufacturing Index (PMI) | Gauging the real impact of high energy costs on U.S. manufacturing sentiment |
| Eurozone Inflation Data | Whether the ECB will pursue multiple rate hikes due to inflation pressure (currently around 2.5%) |
Today is the first trading day of April; the three aforementioned data releases will set the market tone for the month, and investors should closely watch release times and market reactions.
每日全球市場綜合分析