Stocks Open Mixed as OECD Cuts Forecast, Trump Pushes Tax Bill, Meta Ignites Nuclear Rally

WATCH: Tortoise Capital’s Rob Thummel Talks Nuclear Power’s Role in the Energy Future

U.S. equities opened mixed Tuesday as investors digested a slew of economic downgrades, corporate updates, and geopolitical developments. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 35.25 points, or 0.08%, to 42,270.20. The S&P 500 added 5.85 points (0.10%) to 5,941.79, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 65.05 points, or 0.34%, to 19,307.70.

Markets opened under a cloud of caution after the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) slashed its U.S. growth outlook for 2025 to 1.6%, down from a previous forecast of 2.2%. The 2026 forecast was also trimmed to 1.5% from 1.6%. The OECD cited tariffs and policy uncertainty as the primary drags on growth, noting that these factors are “among the key reasons” behind the revised projections.

Adding to investor unease, anticipation is building around labor market data, with the April JOLTS report due later today. Job openings dropped sharply in March, and April’s data is expected to show another decline to 7.10 million, the lowest since the pandemic era, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Analysts are watching closely to assess how President Donald Trump’s tariff policy is affecting employment dynamics.

Trump remains a dominant force in both politics and markets. On Tuesday morning, he posted on Truth Social: “Rand Paul has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming. He loves voting ‘NO’ on everything, he thinks it’s good politics, but it’s not. The BBB is a big WINNER!!!” The message highlights Trump's push for Senate passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill”—a sweeping tax initiative aimed at stimulating growth. However, Republican Senator Rand Paul is reportedly planning to vote against the bill.

Meanwhile, tech and energy stocks saw early gains on news that

CEG CEO Joe Dominguez called the agreement “a model for how America’s clean energy future can be driven by partnerships with forward-thinking companies,” while Meta’s Urvi Parekh described it as “vital” to the company’s AI growth plans. The deal signals a broader trend among hyperscalers toward securing reliable, emissions-free baseload power amid soaring AI-driven energy demand.

On the retail front, Dollar General (DG) jumped more than 10% at the open after posting a strong Q1 earnings beat and raising its full-year guidance. The discount chain reported $10.44 billion in revenue—well above estimates—and EPS of $1.78, topping forecasts by nearly 30 cents. Management acknowledged tariff risks but cited “plans in place” to mitigate potential impacts. CEO Todd Vasos called the trade landscape “highly dynamic” but expressed confidence in the company’s ability to adapt.

As trading unfolds, investors will continue weighing tariff-related risks, labor market trends, and the emerging alignment between Big Tech and nuclear energy infrastructure. The early tone suggests cautious optimism—with tech, energy, and discount retail leading gains even as macroeconomic clouds gather.