US equities hit 6th record close this year

Most US stocks ended Wednesday in the green, with the broader market index hitting its sixth record close in 2025, supported by an improved trade outlook following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a trade deal with Vietnam, despite weak employment data.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was steady at 44,484 points.

The S&P 500 Index added nearly 0.47%, or 29 points, to 6,227, ending at its sixth record close this year.

The Nasdaq Composite gained around 0.94%, or 190 points, to 20,393.

As for the European indices, the STOXX Europe 600 added 0.2% to 541 points.

The FTSE 100 inched down 0.10% to 8,774 points. The DAX 40 rose by 0.50% to 23,790 points, while the CAC 40 advanced 1% to 7,738 points.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei 225 shed 0.55% to 39,762 points. Similarly, TOPIX lost 0.20% to 2,826 points.

On oil, Brent crude futures for September delivery rose by 3%, or $2, to $69.11 a barrel.

US WTI crude futures for August delivery also gained 3%, or $2, to $67.45 a barrel.

As for gold, August futures for the yellow metal rose by 0.30%, or $9.9, to close at $3,359.70 per ounce.

Elsewhere, Trump announced today that the US reached a trade agreement with Vietnam that will set mutual tariff levels between the two countries, just about a week before the expiration of Washington’s suspension of steep tariffs on foreign countries.

Meanwhile, the US State Department condemned Iran’s decision to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a move that reignited fears of renewed military tensions in the Middle East.

On another note, the ADP report released today showed that the US private sector lost 33,000 jobs in