US stocks finished Friday's session in positive territory, helping all three major indices close the week with gains as investors welcomed the blockbuster debut of SpaceX on the Nasdaq and reacted positively to easing oil prices amid renewed hopes of diplomatic progress between the United States and Iran.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average led the way, rising 0.7% and adding more than 350 points. The S&P 500 gained 0.5%, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.3%. Weekly performance was equally constructive, with the Dow and S&P 500 posting gains of around 0.6% and 0.5% respectively, while the Nasdaq added approximately 0.6%.

The standout story of the session was SpaceX, which made a spectacular public market debut. The company began trading under the ticker SPCX at $150 per share, well above its IPO price of $135. By the close, shares had surged to more than $160, delivering first-day gains of nearly 19%.

Beyond the excitement surrounding the stock itself, the offering marked a major test of investor appetite for large-scale growth companies operating at the intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, and space innovation. Raising almost $75 billion, the listing became the largest IPO in market history and reinforced confidence that investors remain willing to back ambitious, future-focused businesses despite lingering macroeconomic uncertainty.

The successful launch also strengthened Elon Musk's influence across financial markets. Positive sentiment spilled over into other Musk-linked ventures, helping Tesla shares gain 1.6% during the session.

Meanwhile, falling oil prices provided additional support for equities. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 3.8% to $84.35 per barrel, while Brent crude declined 3.5% to $87.33. The move followed reports that Washington and Tehran may be making progress toward an agreement that could reduce tensions in the region and potentially ease concerns around shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Lower oil prices were particularly welcomed by travel-related stocks. Airlines and cruise operators, which are highly sensitive to fuel costs, benefited from expectations that sustained declines in crude could improve profitability. Investors showed renewed interest in carriers such as Delta, United Airlines, and American Airlines as fuel-cost pressures appeared to ease.

Elsewhere, bond markets reflected a more cautious tone. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note edged higher to 4.49%, while the US dollar index slipped slightly to 99.78. Bitcoin remained relatively stable near $63,600.

Gold, however, attracted strong buying interest. Futures jumped approximately 3% to around $4,230 per ounce as investors continued to seek protection against geopolitical uncertainty and broader economic risks.

Technology stocks delivered a mixed performance. While Tesla benefited from the SpaceX enthusiasm, Adobe came under heavy selling pressure, falling roughly 7%. Investors reacted negatively after the company warned that efforts to expand adoption of its free AI tools could create short-term pressure on recurring revenue growth. The announcement of the departure of Adobe's chief financial officer added to investor concerns.

Economic data also highlighted a growing disconnect between hard economic indicators and consumer perceptions. Official labour market figures continue to suggest a relatively resilient economy, yet consumer sentiment remains fragile. A University of Michigan survey showed that many Americans expect unemployment to rise over the next year, underscoring persistent concerns about growth prospects, income security, and future spending conditions.

Consumers did receive some relief from lower fuel prices, with the average price of regular gasoline falling to $4.11 per gallon after recently reaching $4.56. Should oil continue to move lower, household spending power could improve, providing some support for broader economic activity.

Market Outlook

Markets begin the new week focused squarely on developments surrounding US-Iran negotiations. Any progress toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz and reducing geopolitical tensions could place further downward pressure on oil prices, helping to ease inflation concerns and improve investor sentiment.

Technology, travel, and aviation stocks may continue to benefit from a combination of lower energy costs and improving risk appetite. Conversely, energy producers could face headwinds if crude prices extend their decline.

Gold is likely to remain supported while geopolitical uncertainty persists, as investors are rarely quick to abandon safe-haven assets during periods of major political transition.

Attention will also remain on the Federal Reserve. A cautious or hawkish policy tone could push Treasury yields higher and weigh on growth stocks. However, if lower energy prices contribute to softer inflation expectations, equity markets may have additional room to extend their recent gains.

For now, investors appear willing to embrace risk, but the sustainability of that optimism will depend on both geopolitical developments and the evolving outlook for inflation and interest rates.