Stocks close higher as bank credit worries, China trade tensions ease

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose Friday as traders digested the U.S.′ softening tone on its trade talks with China and tried to move past credit concerns that sparked a big sell-off in regional banks Thursday.

The Dow finished 238.37 points, or 0.52%, higher at 46,190.61. The S&P 500 settled up 0.53% at 6,664.01, while the Nasdaq Composite

 added 0.52% to finish at 22,679.98.

Stocks extended their gains in afternoon trading after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he would be speaking with his Chinese trade counterpart Friday evening. Trump also said from the White House that a meeting with China President Xi Jinping was still likely at the end of the month. The comments suggested the threat of 100% additional tariffs against China on Nov. 1 might not come to pass.

“The positive sentiment this afternoon has a lot to do with President Trump’s comments about China ... that he understands the tariff threat posed was not sustainable,” Ross Mayfield, an investment strategist at Baird, told CNBC. “I’m sure there will be ups and downs in these negotiations, but I think [Trump’s announcement] sets a baseline that the administration doesn’t want to see a repeat of a Liberation Day-type sell-off.”