Wall Street managed to recover from a red start caused by heightened geopolitical tensions stemming from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Ukraine launched its first U.S.-made missile strike on a Russian city, while Russian President Vladimir Putin adjusted the nation's nuclear doctrine to broaden scenarios for a potential response. Yet, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sought to assuage fears of a nuclear escalation, stating that a nuclear war is not something Russia is considering.

Amid the geopolitical noise, investors remained focused on corporate earnings. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT), often regarded as a bellwether of consumer health, surpassed expectations for the recent quarter. The retailer’s stock surged 4%, hitting fresh all-time highs and boosting market sentiment.

At midday, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posted marginal gains, while blue-chip stocks showed a slight deceleration and small caps held steady.

In fixed income, longer-dated bond yields dipped, with the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:TLT) climbing 0.5%. The U.S. dollar gained 0.1%, attempting to rebound after two consecutive sessions of losses.

Geopolitical risks lifted demand for commodities, with gold and oil rebounding 0.8% and 0.5%, respectively. Natural gas prices – as closely tracked by the United States Natural Gas Fund LP (NYSE:UNG) – extended the rally, adding 2.6% after a 5.3% jump on Monday and hitting the highest levels since June.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) continued to display extraordinary strength, with the cryptocurrency breaking to a new all-time high of $93,931, underscoring robust market interest despite broader macro uncertainties.

Tuesday’s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs

According to Benzinga Pro data:

Tuesday’s Stock Movers

Read Next:

• S&P 500 To Reach 6,500 By End Of 2025, Analysts Predict: Could It Spark M&A Revival?

Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.