Wall Street Climbs as U.S.-China Trade Tensions Ease

Most stock indexes rose on Friday, with Wall Street poised for weekly gains as U.S.-China trade tensions ease. Alphabet shares boosted prices after surpassing profit expectations. China's tariff exemptions provided relief, while conflicting statements on trade negotiations created uncertainty.

Most stock indexes edged higher on Friday as Wall Street looked to end the week with gains amidst easing U.S.-China trade tensions. The dollar, after weeks of decline, saw its first weekly rise in over a month, offering investors a glimmer of hope.

Boosting Wall Street's performance, Alphabet, the parent company of Google, saw a 1.7% share increase following better-than-expected profit margins and reiterated targets on AI expenditure. Despite ongoing uncertainties linked to President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policies, markets showed resilience.

China offered some relief by exempting specific products from steep tariffs despite denying active trade negotiations. Meanwhile, major indexes like S&P 500 and Europe's STOXX 600 showed encouraging performances, as geopolitical tensions continued to shape market dynamics.

(With inputs from agencies.)