Investing.com-- U.S. stock index futures edged higher on Tuesday evening after gains on Wall Street, as investors assessed new President Donald Trump’s policies, while Netflix shares surged after the bell on strong results.
S&P 500 Futures gained 0.2% to 6,096.25 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures rose 0.5% to 21,810.35 points by 18:58 ET (23:58 GMT). Dow Jones Futures were largely unchanged at 44,238.0 points.
Markets upbeat as Trump avoids imposing tariff on day one
On January 20, Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the U.S., marking the start of a new administration that promised significant policy changes.
In his inaugural address, Trump emphasized his vision of restoring American greatness, focusing on themes of economic revitalization, national security, and a shift away from globalization in favor of prioritizing domestic interests.
Immediately after taking office, President Trump began issuing a series of executive orders that underscored his campaign pledges.
Markets were positive as Trump avoided imposing blanket tariffs on his first day, although he said he was thinking about it.
Among several other orders, he created a so-called Department of Government Efficiency that will be led by Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk.
Netflix soars on strong Q4 results
Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:NFLX) shares surged more than 14% in extended trading to $993.99 after the company reported a record-breaking 19 million new subscriber additions in the fourth quarter of 2024, far surpassing Wall Street’s expectations.
The surge in subscriptions was driven by a series of blockbuster content releases, including widely acclaimed new seasons and original films, as well as the rollout of regionally tailored programming that resonated with diverse global audiences.
Quarterly revenue rose to $9.5 billion, up 8% year-over-year, while net income came in at $915 million, reflecting a 12% growth.
Netflix also announced plans to raise prices for most subscription tiers in the U.S., Canada, Portugal, and Argentina, citing increased investments in programming.
Wall Street ends higher on Trump optimism
Analysts expect near-term volatility to persist due to Trump’s policies, but expect his first year in term will see stock markets rally.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.2% to 44,025.81 points, the S&P 500 climbed 0.9% to 6,049.24 points, while the NASDAQ Composite gained 0.6% to 19,756.7.
In other news, President Trump unveiled a $500 billion joint venture, named Stargate, involving OpenAI, Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL), SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO:9984), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), and other tech leaders.
The collaboration aims to construct extensive AI data centers and electricity generation facilities in Texas over the next four years, significantly bolstering the nation’s AI capabilities.
Oracle closed 7.7% higher, while Microsoft and Nvidia shares rose in extended trading.
On Wednesday, GE Vernova LLC (NYSE:GEV), the energy division spun off from General Electric (NYSE:GE), is set to announce its quarterly earnings.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) are scheduled to release their results on Wednesday.