12:22 PM EDT, 04/09/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes rose in choppy midday trading, while government bond yields surged and crude oil futures sank to a four-year low as investors weighed China's retaliation against President Donald Trump's trade tariffs amid reports that a bailout of farmers is under consideration.

The Nasdaq rose 1.3% to 15,468.1, with the S&P 500 up 0.4% to 5,004.2 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average 0.5% higher at 37,832.3. Technology was the top gainer intraday, while healthcare and utilities led the decliners.

China raised tariffs on US goods entering the world's second-largest economy to 84% from 34%, effective April 10. The increase follows 104% of US import levies coming into force overnight. Meanwhile, the European Commission said duties would start being collected on the first tranche of tariffs on US imports from April 15, with a second set of measures following on May 15, CNBC reported.

Separately, Bloomberg reported that the US government is considering a farmer bailout to counter the impact of trade tariffs. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told Bloomberg that the administration is exploring using the Commodity Credit Corporation to support farmers.

Almost all US Treasury yields rose intraday, with the 10-year yield surging 18.3 basis points to 4.44% after hitting an intraday high of 4.51%. The two-year yield traded up 3.5 basis points to 3.77% after touching a high of 3.83%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures plunged 3.7% to $57.43 a barrel.

Gold futures jumped 3.6% to $3,098.71 per ounce, and silver futures advanced 1.9% to $30.25 per ounce.

In company news, Delta Air Lines ( DAL ) reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings on Wednesday while opting against reaffirming its full-year outlook because of the uncertain macroeconomic environment. The carrier's shares jumped 5.2% intraday, the top performer on the S&P 500.