Major US indices close higher for the 2nd consecutive day

The major US stock indices have risen for the second consecutive day, with notable gains driven by the NASDAQ, which rose 1.26%. The S&P and Dow followed with increases of 0.81% and 0.63%, respectively. The Russell 2000 also showed a positive trend, up by 0.41%. The anticipation for earnings reports from Salesforce and Nvidia has kept market sentiment buoyant. Salesforce shares spiked 3.41% before seeing a decline of $6.50, or -3.41%, in after-hours trading. Meanwhile, Nvidia's shares were up 1.44%. Salesforce reported earnings of $3.81 per share, beating estimates, and revenue of $11.2 billion, slightly exceeding expectations as well. The announcement of a $50 billion share buyback and an increase in dividends to $0.44 per share reflects strong management confidence. However, the after-hours drop suggests the market is cautious about sustainability in this positive outlook. Nvidia continues to remain a focal point with future earnings expectations, though specific indicators were not provided in the report. Overall, the stock market shows a robust performance, especially within the technology sector.