Tech and client lead US shares larger; Utilities and vitality drag down market

U.S. stocks ended the day modestly higher, supported by steady gains in large-caps and renewed strength in several growth names. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 104.05 points (+0.22%) to 47,954.99, while the S&P 500 added 13.28 points (+0.19%) to 6,870.40. The Nasdaq Composite outperformed, climbing 72.99 points (+0.31%) to 23,578.13.

Sector performance was mixed, with leadership in technology-adjacent groups and pockets of consumer strength, while more defensive or rate-sensitive sectors lagged. The S&P industry components ranged from modest gains to sharp declines, reflecting uneven risk sentiment heading into next week’s key economic events.

On the corporate front, several high-profile stocks staged strong moves of 2% or more, led by rebounds in software, airlines, chips, and select retail names. Conversely, a number of well-known names dropped more than 2%, including financial technology, consumer durables, and crypto-related equities. Momentum traders leaned into turnaround stories but rotated out of crowded trades in high-beta or speculative tech.

Index Performance

• Dow industrial average: 47,954.99 (+104.05 / +0.22%)

• S&P index: 6,870.40 (+13.28 / +0.19%)

• NASDAQ index: 23,578.13 (+72.99 / +0.31%)

Top Performers

• $5COND (Consumer Discretionary): 1,930.52 (+8.48 / +0.44%)

• $5INFT (Information Technology): 5,778.77 (+26.02 / +0.45%)

• $5TELS (Telecom): 460.94 (+4.35 / +0.95%)

• SPF (Financials): 891.11 (+0.32 / +0.04%)

• $5REAS (Real Estate): 258.39 (+0.01 / +0.00%)

Laggards

• $5CONS (Consumer Staples): 869.65 (-2.31 / -0.26%)

• $5HLTH (Health Care): 1,783.39 (-7.37 / -0.41%)

• $5INDU (Industrials): 1,305.49 (-3.64 / -0.28%)

• SPN (Energy): 696.24 (-3.02 / -0.43%)

• $5MATR (Materials): 554.56 (-2.18 / -0.39%)

• $5UTIL (Utilities): 437.43 (-4.35 / -0.98%)

Summary:

Technology and consumer discretionary set the tone on the upside, while utilities, energy, and health care weighed on market breadth. Telecom outperformance reflected a rotation into communication-linked cyclicals. Defensive sectors lagged as Treasury yields held steady and traders favored growth pockets.

Big-Cap & Well-Followed Names

• Moderna – +8.73%

• Dollar Tree – +5.67%

• Southwest Airlines – +5.64%

• Adobe – +5.34%

• Salesforce – +5.27%

• Western Digital – +4.91%

• Micron – +4.64%

• Lululemon Athletica – +3.49%

• American Airlines – +3.35%

• Ciena Corp – +2.99%

• Airbnb – +2.90%

• Broadcom – +2.42%

• Macy’s – +2.37%

• Intel – +2.24%

• Palantir – +2.16%

• Fortinet – +2.04%

Narrative Summary:

Strong sessions in Adobe, Micron, Western Digital, and Broadcom point to renewed enthusiasm in AI-related and semiconductor ecosystems. Airlines (LUV, AAL) rallied sharply, reflecting easing cost concerns and travel demand optimism. Retail saw selective strength with Dollar Tree, Macy’s, and Lululemon advancing.

Largest Drops

• Paramount Skydance – –9.82%

• SoFi Technologies – –6.15%

• Whirlpool – –4.86%

• Nebius NV – –4.63%

• Robinhood Markets – –3.76%

• Strategy (MicroStrategy) – –3.75%

• Trump Media & Technology Group – –3.65%

• Grayscale Bitcoin (BTC) – –3.43%

• Bitcoin Futures – –3.02%

• BTC/USD – –2.98%

• ARK Genomic Revolution ETF – –2.95%

• Netflix – –2.90%

• Papa John’s – –2.83%

• Baker Hughes – –2.81%

• Snowflake – –2.55%

• Lennar – –2.26%

Narrative Summary:

Weakness clustered in crypto-linked names (MSTR, GBTC, BMC, BTC/USD), fintech (SOFI, HOOD), and select consumer durables such as Whirlpool. Netflix and Snowflake extended recent softness, while broader declines in biotech ETFs signaled risk-off sentiment in speculative growth pockets