US Equity Markets End Higher Led by Technology Sector, Nonfarm Payrolls Data
US equity indexes ended higher on Friday, with the technology sector posting big gains and positive employment data amid reports that the US struck Iranian tankers while awaiting a response to its peace proposal.* The US expects a response from Iran on a proposal to end the war on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, adding he hopes "it's a serious offer," CNN reported.* Nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday, beating the 65,000 gain expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.* US consumer sentiment continued to fall in May, with the main sentiment index dropping to an all-time low of 48.2 from April's 49.8, according to the University of Michigan's preliminary survey on Friday.* June West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $0.05 to settle at $94.86 per barrel, while July Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $0.48 at $100.60.* Akamai Technologies (AKAM) shares were up roughly 27%, the biggest gainer on the S&P 500, after the company reported Q1 non-GAAP net income above market expectations and higher revenue. Anthropic also signed a $1.8 billion computing deal with Akamai to help meet surging demand for its artificial intelligence systems, Bloomberg reported Friday.* Mettler-Toledo International's (MTD) shares were down nearly 15%, the steepest decline on the S&P 500, after Citigroup adjusted its price target to $1,550 from $1,700 a share, and Evercore ISI lowered its price objective for the company to $1,300 from $1,425 a share, with both cuts following Mettler-Toledo's Q1 results overnight.
