Yahoo Finance

Key Takeaways

• The S&P 500 added 0.7% on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, ahead of President Trump's afternoon tariff announcement.

• Shares of Leidos and other defense contractors moved higher after a report that Elon Musk might soon step back from his government efficiency role.

• Altria shares fell after Deutsche Bank analysts downgraded the tobacco maker's stock, citing valuation and regulatory concerns.

Major U.S. equities indexes ended Wednesday with minor gains as investors awaited clarity on impending shifts in U.S. trade policy. President Donald Trump announced the latest round of tariffs at an event beginning as Wednesday's trading session ended.

The latest ADP National Employment Report showed that the private sector added more positions than expected in March, a signal of resilience in the labor market heading into Friday's jobs report.

The S&P 500 ended the midweek trading session with a gain of 0.7%. The Dow advanced 0.6%, while the Nasdaq advanced 0.9%.

Shares of defense contractor Leidos Holdings (LDOS) jumped 5.9%, gaining the most of any S&P 500 stock. A Politico report indicated that President Trump has communicated to members of his administration about Elon Musk stepping away from his government advisory role. That boosted investor sentiment around defense firms and other government contractors. Other defense stocks also gained ground. (Musk called the report "fake news.")

Caesars Entertainment (CZR) shares moved 5.8% higher. Analysts forecast a recovery on the Las Vegas Strip in March, linking February's year-over-year declines in gaming wins to unique events in 2024, including an extra day in the month due to Leap Year and a traffic boost from the Super Bowl taking place in the city, which distorted comparisons this year. Even after Wednesday's gain, Caesars stock is down more than 20% year-to-date and has lost nearly 40% over the past six months.

Tesla (TSLA) shares started the session in negative territory as the electric vehicle maker reported fewer-than-expected deliveries in the first quarter, but the stock shifted gears after the report about Musk, its CEO, potentially distancing himself from the Department of Government Efficiency. Tesla shares ended with a daily gain of 5.3%.

The heaviest decline in the S&P 500 hit shares of chocolate maker Hershey (HSY), which slipped 3.3%. The stock has been trending downward for the past two weeks as the confectioner navigates the rising cost of cocoa and aims to source more cocoa beans directly. Last week, analysts at Piper Sandler affirmed their "underperform" rating on Hershey stock, noting that pricing pressure for the key input could persist into next year. The company also trimmed its 2025 profit guidance, pointing to soft retail sales momentum.