
Meta stock price rises for a second day, jumps 11%: What's fuelling the rally?
Meta share price jumped 11 per cent to an intraday high of $708.50 apiece on Wednesday, but closed flat at $695.21 on Nasdaq.
The Meta stock rally continued for two straight days after the Mark Zuckerberg-led company reported better-than-expected Q2 results.
(This is a developing story. Check back for updates)

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Economic Times
44 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Apple stock jumps 6% on $100B U.S. pledge, powering Wall Street rally—Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq climb as McDonald's, Shopify gain; AMD, Disney, Super Micro retreat
Synopsis Apple stock rally lifted Wall Street on Wednesday, pushing the S&P 500 and Nasdaq higher, as investors cheered Apple's bold plan to invest $100 billion more in the U.S. economy over the next four years. This massive commitment came ahead of a major White House announcement and fueled strong confidence in tech stocks. Gains in McDonald's, Shopify, and Arista Networks added momentum, while Super Micro, AMD, and Disney dragged the market with weaker results. With tariff concerns and interest rate cut hopes in the background, investors are watching the Federal Reserve closely ahead of its September decision. Apple (AAPL) surged 6% on Wednesday after announcing a massive $100 billion expansion in its U.S. investment plan, lifting market sentiment and fueling a tech-led rally on Wall Street. The stock closed at $214.39, up over $11 intraday, accounting for nearly half of the S&P 500's 0.7% daily gain. Wall Street closed higher on Wednesday, fueled by a sharp 6% rally in Apple Inc. (AAPL) after the tech giant unveiled a landmark $100 billion investment plan aimed at expanding its U.S. footprint over the next four years. The stock soared $11.47 to finish at $214.39, its highest close in weeks, and contributed nearly 50% of the S&P 500's total point gain for the day. Apple's move, expected to be officially announced at the White House later this week, would bring its total domestic investment to $600 billion, signaling strong confidence in the U.S. economy and providing a major sentiment boost to equity markets. Apple shares soared nearly 6% in Wednesday's trading session, accounting for almost half of the S&P 500's total gain. The surge came ahead of a major White House announcement, where Apple is expected to unveil plans to invest an additional $100 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. This move, set to increase its total domestic investments to $600 billion, signals strong corporate confidence in the American economy and helped reassure Wall Street amid mixed signals from other sectors. S&P 500 : Up 0.7% : Up Nasdaq Composite : Gained 1% : Gained Dow Jones Industrial Average: Rose 97 points or 0.2% The rally was concentrated in tech-heavy sectors, largely thanks to Apple, while other parts of the market saw mixed performance due to a varied batch of corporate earnings reports. Apple (AAPL) : +6% ($214.39) – $100B U.S. investment pledge sparks optimism : +6% ($214.39) – $100B U.S. investment pledge sparks optimism Shopify (SHOP) : +20% – Revenue beat and bullish Q3 guidance lifted the e-commerce giant : +20% – Revenue beat and bullish Q3 guidance lifted the e-commerce giant Arista Networks (ANET) : +18% – Strong AI infrastructure demand powered earnings surprise : +18% – Strong AI infrastructure demand powered earnings surprise McDonald's (MCD): +3% – Beat expectations; Minecraft-themed campaign boosted traffic The broader market showed mixed reactions to a flurry of Q2 earnings results: McDonald's stock climbed 3% after beating both profit and revenue expectations. A marketing campaign tied to the popular Minecraft movie helped drive traffic and sales. climbed after beating both profit and revenue expectations. A marketing campaign tied to the popular movie helped drive traffic and sales. Shopify shares surged nearly 20% after reporting better-than-expected revenue and issuing a strong revenue forecast for the next quarter, signaling robust e-commerce trends . surged nearly after reporting better-than-expected revenue and issuing a strong revenue forecast for the next quarter, signaling robust . Arista Networks jumped 18% thanks to higher-than-expected profits and a bullish outlook tied to growing AI infrastructure demand . jumped thanks to higher-than-expected profits and a bullish outlook tied to growing . Super Micro Computer fell sharply, losing 21% , as its earnings and guidance disappointed investors after a period of high gains. Despite an 88% gain earlier in the year, the stock tumbled following a weak quarterly update. fell sharply, losing , as its earnings and guidance disappointed investors after a period of high gains. Despite an 88% gain earlier in the year, the stock tumbled following a weak quarterly update. Disney stock slipped 3% , even though the company beat profit expectations. Revenue missed the mark, and analysts noted that investors were expecting a more optimistic forward outlook, especially after the announcement of a tentative deal with the NFL giving ESPN access to NFL Network, NFL Fantasy, and RedZone rights. slipped , even though the company beat profit expectations. Revenue missed the mark, and analysts noted that investors were expecting a more optimistic forward outlook, especially after the announcement of a giving ESPN access to NFL Network, NFL Fantasy, and RedZone rights. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) dropped 6.6%, as its profit matched analyst forecasts but failed to impress investors who had driven the stock up 44% year-to-date. Solid projections weren't enough to overcome market fatigue and regulatory concerns over chip exports. Despite upbeat earnings in some corners, investors remain cautious about the overall economic outlook. Last week's weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs report has fueled speculation that the Federal Reserve may move to cut interest rates as early as its next meeting in September 2025. Bond markets reflected this cautious optimism: The 10-year Treasury yield inched up to 4.24%, just slightly above Tuesday's 4.22% but still well below last week's levels. Hopes for a rate cut are being weighed against the risk of rising inflation, which could follow looser monetary policy. Still, many see easing by the Fed as necessary to offset pressure from Trump-era tariffs and global economic uncertainty. President Donald Trump's renewed focus on tariffs continues to worry some investors, especially in light of potential trade barriers on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and Chinese exports. These geopolitical tensions may be weighing on business confidence and hiring decisions, as reflected in recent employment data. Stock indexes across Europe and Asia also posted moderate gains on Wednesday, mirroring the positive momentum from Wall Street. Overseas optimism remains tied to the strength of U.S. tech earnings and a possible easing in Fed policy, though global markets are keeping a close watch on U.S. tariff developments and inflation trends. Apple's historic investment pledge and its stock surge helped lift the entire market, showing how one major move from a tech giant can change investor sentiment. Strong showings from McDonald's, Shopify, and Arista provided additional tailwinds for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. However, earnings disappointments from Disney, AMD, and Super Micro, along with ongoing tariff fears, underscore the market's underlying volatility. As September's Federal Reserve meeting approaches, Wall Street remains on alert. For now, Apple's bold commitment to the U.S. economy has delivered a much-needed dose of confidence. Q1: Why did Apple stock rise so much today? Apple stock jumped after news of a $100 billion U.S. investment plan that boosted investor confidence. Q2: What is driving Wall Street gains this week? Strong tech earnings, Apple's big investment, and hopes for interest rate cuts are lifting the markets.


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Donald Trump tariffs: Possible alternatives for India to replace Russian oil imports
India, which gets more than a third of its oil imports from Russia, is likely to turn to supplies from the Middle East and Africa and other regions if it is forced to cut Russian imports due to possible US penalties. US President Donald Trump has slapped an additional 25 per cent tariff on goods coming from India as penalty for New Delhi's continued buying of Russian oil.(PTI) WHY IS INDIA IMPORTING RUSSIAN OIL? India turned to purchasing Russian oil sold at a discount after Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and shunned its supplies over its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia has become the top supplier to India, accounting for about 35% of India's overall supplies, up from less than 2% before the war in Ukraine. Global crude prices surged to $137 per barrel on supply shortage fears in the wake of the Western-led sanctions before stabilising. The discounted Russian crude has reduced Indian refiners' costs. India imports more than 85% of its oil needs. HOW MUCH RUSSIAN OIL DOES INDIA BUY? The world's third biggest oil importer and consumer received about 1.75 million barrels per day of Russian oil in the first half of this year, up 1% from a year ago, trade data showed. While Indian state refiners buy Russian oil from traders, private refiners Nayara Energy and Reliance Industries Ltd, operator of the world's largest refining complex, have long-term supply deals with Rosneft. WHY DOES TRUMP WANT INDIA TO CUT RUSSIAN OIL IMPORTS? US President Donald Trump has said he would raise the tariff charged on goods imported from India substantially from 25%, in view of New Delhi's continued purchases of Russian oil. He has warned that countries purchasing Russian exports could face sanctions if Russia fails to reach a peace deal with Ukraine. New Delhi has resisted the pressure, citing its longstanding ties with Russia and its economic needs. However, the country's state refiners have paused buying Russian oil. WHAT ARE INDIA'S OPTIONS IF IT CAN'T BUY RUSSIAN OIL? Besides Russia, India buys oil from Iraq - its top supplier before the war in Ukraine followed by Saudi Arabia - and the United Arab Emirates. Indian refiners mostly buy oil from Middle Eastern producers under annual deals with the flexibility to request more supply every month. Since Trump's sanctions warning, the refiners have bought crude from the United States, Middle East, West Africa, and Azerbaijan. India has diversified its sources of supply to about 40 countries, oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says, adding that more supply is coming onto the market from Guyana, Brazil and Canada.


Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
WhatsApp takes down 6.8 million accounts linked to criminal scam centers, Meta says
AP Updated 6 Aug 2025, 07:58 PM IST NEW YORK (AP) — WhatsApp has taken down 6.8 million accounts that were 'linked to criminal scam centers' targeting people online around that world, its parent company Meta said this week. The account deletions, which Meta said took place over the first six months of the year, arrive as part of wider company efforts to crack down on scams. In a Tuesday announcement, Meta said it was also rolling new tools on WhatsApp to help people spot scams — including a new safety overview that the platform will show when someone who is not in a user's contacts adds them to a group, as well as ongoing test alerts to pause before responding. Scams are becoming all too common and increasingly sophisticated in today's digital world — with too-good-to-be-true offers and unsolicited messages attempting to steal consumers' information or money filling our phones, social media and other corners of the internet each day. Meta noted that 'some of the most prolific' sources of scams are criminal scam centers, which often span from forced labor operated by organized crime — and warned that such efforts often target people on many platforms at once, in attempts to evade detection. That means that a scam campaign may start with messages over text or a dating app, for example, and then move to social media and payment platforms, the California-based company said. Meta, which also owns Facebook and Instagram, pointed to recent scam efforts that it said attempted to use its own apps — as well as TikTok, Telegram and AI-generated messages made using ChatGPT — to offer payments for fake likes, enlist people into a pyramid scheme and/or lure others into cryptocurrency investments. Meta linked these scams to a criminal scam center in Cambodia — and said it disrupted the campaign in partnership with ChatGPT maker OpenAI.