Wall Street closed out the first quarter with a powerful rally Tuesday, as all major indices posted gains exceeding 2.4%. The S&P 500 climbed 2.91% to 6,529, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq led the charge with a 3.39% surge to 21,471. The Dow Jones added 2.46% to reach 46,347, and small-caps outperformed with the Russell 2000 jumping 3.50% to 2,490.
Technology stocks drove the broad-based advance, with semiconductor names particularly strong as investors positioned for continued AI infrastructure buildout. The VIX fell to 24.8, reflecting reduced market anxiety despite elevated levels compared to historical norms. Gold prices held firm at $4,600 per ounce, suggesting investors maintained some hedging positions even as risk appetite improved.
The quarter-end rally came as institutional investors completed portfolio rebalancing and month-end buying programs provided additional momentum. Energy was the notable laggard among sectors, with oil and gas producers facing headwinds from supply concerns and commodity price fluctuations.
Volume was elevated across exchanges as the trading session marked the final day of Q1, with broad participation across market capitalizations signaling healthy underlying demand for equities heading into April.