U.S. stocks are rising Tuesday after more companies said they made bigger profits at the end of last year than analysts expected. The S&P 500 was up 0.7% in afternoon trading, as many markets around the world took only tentative steps following Donald Trump’s return to the White House on Monday.

US stocks started higher after Donald Trump returned to the White House on Monday and seemed to soften his stance on tariffs.

Analysts at Morgan Stanley say Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is in a "pole position" to capitalize on growing demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI)-powered applications like AI agents. Other analysts seem to agree.

Asian shares are mixed after gains for oil and gas producers helped offset drops for Nvidia and other Big Tech companies on Wall Street.

BMO Capital Markets forecasts the S&P 500 will reach 6,700, reflecting a gain of 13.2%. Chief investment strategist Brian Belski said he and his team "remain resolutely bullish," but expect "performance and fundamentals will more closely match the historical norms -- namely, in the high-single digit/low-double-digit percentage range in 2025."

Yesterday, Hong Kong-listed growth stocks had a strong day, as the Hang Seng Index gained +1.75% and the Hang Seng Tech Index gained +2.59% following President Trump and President Xi’s Friday phone call that took place after Asia markets closed and before the US markets opened.

U.S. stock indexes closed their best week in two months with a flourish on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 334 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 1.5%. All the companies in what's come to be known as the “ Magnificent Seven ” rose: Alphabet,

Stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region made modest gains on Tuesday after President Donald Trump said he is thinking of imposing new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China. Shares were flat to a little higher after Trump pledged in his inaugural address to bring in a "golden age" for America and stopped short of announcing fresh import taxes on his first day in office.

US stock indices opened higher on Tuesday, as investors’ focus shifts on President Donald Trump's executive orders on energy and immigration, while awaiting his trade policy. At 09:57 a.m. the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 258.