S&P 500, Nasdaq hit records as AMD lifts AI stocks
π The S&P 500 climbed 1.46% to a record close of 7,365.09 points, while the Nasdaq surged 2.03% to hit 25,838.94 points.
π» Advanced Micro Devices soared nearly 19% to an all-time high after forecasting quarterly revenue above expectations due to robust demand for its data center chips.
π€ The strong AI-driven earnings season is propelling Wall Street stocks higher as investors look beyond the Middle East conflict.
π Over 80% of S&P 500 companies reporting through May 1 have exceeded analysts' profit estimates, marking potential strongest growth in four years.
β‘ Rival Intel gained 4.5% and the PHLX chip index rallied 4.5%, with its projected gain for 2026 reaching 62%.
π’οΈ Global stocks surged and oil prices slumped after reports suggested progress in negotiations between Washington and Tehran to end the war.
πΌ The hiring of a new CEO at Intel was not mentioned in the text, but the market focus remained on AI chip demand and earnings beats.
π€ Corning announced a partnership with Nvidia to expand US production of optical connectivity products for AI data centers.
β‘ Hut 8 shares jumped 35% after securing a 15-year lease worth $9.8 billion for a Texas data center campus.
π’ Super Micro Computer rallied 24.5% following a stronger-than-expected forecast for fourth-quarter revenue and adjusted profit.
π° Walt Disney rose 7.5% after beating second-quarter estimates as investors noted CEO Josh D'Amaro's growth strategy.
π Uber Technologies gained 8.5% after forecasting strong second-quarter bookings.
π US private payrolls showed their largest increase in 15 months in April, indicating continued labor market stability.
βοΈ The S&P 500 saw advancing issues outnumber falling ones by a 1.7-to-one ratio during the session.
ποΈ The St. Louis Federal Reserve president warned that inflation risks may require interest rates to stay on hold longer due to a stable job market.
π Trading volume on US exchanges was heavy at 18.8 billion shares, exceeding the average of the previous 20 sessions.
π Nine of the 11 S&P 500 sector indexes rose, led by industrials up 2.6% and information technology up 2.56%.
- AMD soared almost 19% to an all-time high after forecasting quarterly revenue above expectations driven by robust demand for its data center chips.
- The strong performance from Advanced Micro Devices sparked a broader rally in chipmakers and AI-related stocks, with rival Intel gaining 4.5% and the PHLX chip index rallying 4.5%.
- S&P 500 companies are on track for their strongest profit growth in more than four years, with over 80% of reporting companies exceeding analysts' profit estimates as of May 1.
- The S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached record highs, climbing 1.46% to 7,365.09 points and gaining 2.03% to 25,838.94 points respectively, signaling strong investor confidence.
- Hut 8 saw shares surge 35% after signing a 15-year lease worth US$9.8 billion for its Beacon Point data center campus in Texas, underscoring continued investment in AI infrastructure.
- Wall Street has experienced heavy volume with 18.8 billion shares traded, indicating strong participation and momentum in the market.
- Nine of the 11 S&P 500 sector indexes rose, led by industrials up 2.6% and information technology gaining 2.56%, reflecting broad-based strength across the economy.
- Advanced Micro Devices' stock soared 19% due to strong earnings, indicating that competitors like Intel (up 4.5%) and the broader chip sector are relying heavily on AMD's AI momentum to drive their own rallies, which could lead to market saturation or intensified competition for market share in the data center space.
- Oil prices slumped with Brent crude falling 8% to US$101 a barrel following news of potential Middle East conflict resolution; however, this price drop is linked to geopolitical uncertainty rather than supply constraints, potentially masking underlying inflationary risks if stability proves temporary.
- The PHLX chip index rallied to project a 62% gain for 2026 based on current optimism, which may overstate long-term growth potential given the cyclicality of semiconductor demand and the rapid pace of technological obsolescence in AI hardware.
- Volume on US exchanges was heavy at 18.8 billion shares versus an average of 17.6 billion, suggesting heightened volatility as investors rotate into AI-related stocks without full clarity on sustainability amid geopolitical shifts in the Middle East.
- St. Louis Federal Reserve president Alberto Musalem warned that risks to monetary policy have shifted toward higher inflation, possibly requiring interest rates to stay on hold for some time despite a stable job market, which could eventually dampen demand for capital-intensive AI infrastructure projects.