Global Markets Rally Amid Mixed Corporate Earnings and Trade Uncertainty

Global markets gained momentum on Thursday, bolstered by strong corporate earnings reports from major companies despite ongoing trade tensions. Notable performances included Japan's Nikkei 225 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200. On Wall Street, significant gains were recorded by Mattel and Amgen amid concerns over Alphabet's cloud growth slowing and AMD's AI prospects.

Asian shares showed strength on Thursday, following a Wall Street rally spurred by profit reports from major companies. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 benchmark rose 0.2%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 surged 1.1%. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong and the Shanghai Composite also recorded gains, though media reports of Honda and Nissan discussing a joint holding company remained unconfirmed.

Wall Street saw the S&P 500 rise by 0.4%, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average adding 317 points. Toymaker Mattel made significant strides, jumping 15.3% after beating profit forecasts, largely due to robust Hot Wheels sales. Amgen also rallied 6.5% on stronger-than-expected profit reports and played a pivotal role in lifting the S&P 500.

However, Alphabet suffered a 7.3% drop due to concerns about its cloud business growth, despite strong profits. Investors are wary of Alphabet's $75 billion investment plan, particularly in AI technology. Meanwhile, AMD's decline reflected investor uncertainty about its future AI offerings. Broader economic concerns linger, with traders adjusting expectations on tariffs and inflation.

(With inputs from agencies.)