Key takeout
- The S&P 500 increased by 0.8% on Friday, August 8, 2025, just edging past the record close it achieved the previous week.
- Gilead Sciences saw the best performance on the S&P 500 after surpassing sales and profit expectations for the quarter.
- The Trade Desk’s stock plummeted as clients reduced ad spending amid tariff concerns.
The main U.S. stock indexes climbed to finish the week, fueled by comments from Federal Reserve officials hinting at imminent interest rate cuts. Additionally, news that President Trump would nominate Stephen Miran for a Federal Reserve position stirred investor optimism.
The S&P 500’s Friday performance slightly lagged its all-time high from last week, closing up by 0.8%. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq gained nearly 1%, marking a second consecutive record, and the Dow rose by 0.5%.
On Friday, Gilead Sciences (GILD) stood out as the leading performer in the S&P 500, with shares jumping 8.3% after exceeding revenue expectations and delivering strong second quarter earnings per share. The company’s HIV treatment, Descovy, also contributed to sales growth, driven by increased demand and rising average prices.
Gen Digital (GEN), a cybersecurity firm, exceeded quarterly sales and profit forecasts while raising its annual outlook. The surge in AI-driven fraud has led to increased demand for its antivirus and identity protection services, resulting in a 7.7% increase in its stock price.
Monster Beverage (MNST) reported record quarterly revenue, surpassing both top and bottom-line analyst expectations, leading to a 6.4% rise in its shares. Analysts noted the expanding energy drink market and speculated that the company would benefit from innovations in zero-sugar products.
Apple’s (AAPL) shares climbed over 4% after CEO Tim Cook announced a $100 billion investment in U.S. production during a visit to the White House with Trump.
Contrarily, The Trade Desk (TTD) saw its shares dive 38.6%, making it the biggest loser in the S&P 500 for the day. The company, which offers cloud-based solutions for advertisers to optimize campaigns, cited that many larger clients were cutting back on their ad expenditures due to tariff pressures. While Trade Desk reported an 18.7% year-on-year revenue increase, it modestly missed analyst revenue forecasts after appointing a new CFO.
GoDaddy (GDDY) revised its annual revenue guidance upward following strong second quarter sales and profits. However, it announced plans to cease operating as a registrar for .Co domains by the fourth quarter of 2025. Following the news, GoDaddy’s shares fell 11.3%.
Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) saw its shares drop by 8% after posting quarterly results that showed strong growth in its studio division, mainly due to robust box office performance from recent theatrical releases. However, the company’s global linear network revenue declined compared to last year, highlighting ongoing challenges in the television sector.
