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US stocks opened higher on Friday as investors bought technology shares and tracked trade policy headlines. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 rose at the open, while chipmakers led early gains ahead of next week’s CES conference in Las Vegas.
Across markets, Bitcoin traded near $89,435, and Ether held around $3,080, extending a risk-on tone. Oil slipped toward $56.73 a barrel, while spot gold climbed to about $4,339 an ounce. In Europe, the Stoxx 600 rose 0.6%, and the MSCI World Index gained 0.3%, extending global equity strength into early 2026.
The S&P 500 gained about 0.6% at 9:53 a.m. in New York, with technology and communication services leading. The NASDAQ 100 added 1.2% as investors focused on AI-linked hardware and software demand. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumped as much as 4.5%, its biggest intraday rise since late November.
Advanced Micro Devices surged about 5.9% as traders positioned for CEO Lisa Su’s Monday night CES remarks. NVIDIA rose around 3% with CEO Jensen Huang set for several event appearances expected to address data centers, physical AI, and robotics. Later, the NASDAQ 100 trimmed gains as some mega-cap names traded lower.
Tesla shares fell after the company reported weaker fourth-quarter deliveries than analysts expected. The automaker said deliveries fell 16% year over year in the quarter, undershooting forecasts for a smaller drop. The update added to scrutiny of growth assumptions across high-valuation leaders.
Investors pointed to signs of a softer tariff stance as they assessed early-year positioning. Reports cited delayed hikes on items such as upholstered furniture and lower anti-dumping duties on some Italian pasta. Wayfair and RH rose after the updates, reflecting sensitivity to import costs.
JPMorgan’s Michael Cembalest outlined four risks for 2026 that could challenge a concentrated equity market near records. He highlighted US power generation constraints and China’s ability to scale a technology advantage. He also flagged China’s approach to Taiwan and the payoff from $1.3 trillion in hyperscaler spending and research since 2022.
Deutsche Bank highlighted additional themes that could influence markets in 2026 beyond AI. The bank pointed to evolving US trade rules and a Supreme Court case on the legality of levies. Strategists also expect close attention on the Federal Reserve as President Donald Trump prepares to name a successor to Chair Jerome Powell early in the year.
Treasury yields held near recent levels as investors looked ahead to key data releases. The 10-year Treasury yield stayed near 4.17%, while Germany’s 10-year yield rose to about 2.89% and Britain’s 10-year yield climbed to 4.52%. Traders also watched the 30-year yield near its highest level since September.
The dollar index stayed nearly unchanged in currency trading. The euro slipped to about $1.1734, while the pound rose to approximately $1.3478, and the yen traded near 156.74 per dollar. In metals, silver gained about 2%, and gold rose 0.5% after recent sharp swings.
Bitcoin rose about 1.3%, and Ether added around 3.1% as crypto outperformed equities during the session. Investors now shift focus to next week’s calendar, including early bank results and Friday’s US jobs report. These releases may steer expectations for earnings, rates, and the AI trade into 2026.
Also Read: US Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Trades Flat in Thin Year-End Session as Investors Await Fed Minutes
