Tech and semis power broad market rally

Stocks rallied broadly, with the S&P 500 up 1.14%, the Nasdaq-100 leading gains at +1.73%, the Dow up 0.61%, and the Russell 2000 adding 0.55%. The VIX slid 12.8%, reflecting reduced volatility demand. Gold gained 1.6% and long-dated Treasuries (TLT) rose 1.0%.

Semiconductors (+2.68%) and Technology (+2.22%) led sector performance, followed by Consumer Discretionary (+1.03%). Communication Services was the lone notable laggard, down 0.47%, with Financials roughly flat. Breadth was strongly positive, with advancers outpacing decliners by more than 3-to-1 (9,266 vs 2,977).

Among individual names, GNRC surged 18.8%, while SMCI (+9.6%) and INTC (+8.2%) also posted sharp gains. On the downside, DVA fell 5.6% and TMUS dropped 5.5%, among the session's biggest laggards.

Headlines on the day were dominated by shareholder-litigation notices, corporate press releases, and commentary pieces on AI-power investing themes, along with a report on Nebius Group shares rising Thursday morning; no single macro catalyst stood out.