Trending Sectors | Tech, AI, and EVs Lead Gains While Oil, Gold, and Crypto Surge Amid Mixed Retail Signals

【Major U.S. Stock Indices】

The U.S. stock market broadly increased, with the S&P 500 rising by 2.02%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 1.84%, and the Nasdaq by 2.43%. Market sentiment was buoyed by positive economic data and strong performance in tech stocks, particularly with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) meeting expectations and core CPI rising less than anticipated. This instilled confidence in the market, with tech stocks showing significant gains late in the afternoon.

【Performance of Leading Tech】

The leading tech giants mostly gained, with Microsoft up 2.56%, Apple up 1.97%, NVIDIA up 3.37%, Amazon up 2.57%, Google up 3.11%, Meta up 3.85%, and Tesla soaring 8.04%. Microsoft announced that its enterprise AI assistant would be powered by GPT-4o, planning to launch the 365 Copilot Chat, indicating continued investment in AI. Apple’s CEO Cook is set to meet with other tech company CEOs at Trump’s inauguration, despite Goldman Sachs stating that its credit card agreement with Apple might end before 2030. Amazon garnered attention for setting records during the NFL playoffs broadcast, signaling that tech giants are continuously advancing in their respective fields.

【AI and Semiconductor Sector】

The AI sector performed strongly, with NVIDIA up 3.37% and its market cap reaching $3.34 trillion, leading the AI sector. NVIDIA's market cap surpassed the $3 trillion mark, reflecting market confidence in its AI and semiconductor capabilities. In the semiconductor sector, SMCI rose by 1.51%, Arm Holdings by 5.24%, and Micron Technology by 5.99%. President Biden signed an executive order to accelerate AI infrastructure construction, also boosting stock prices in the sector.

【Electric Vehicle Sector】

In the electric vehicle sector, Tesla stood out with an 8.04% increase, pushing its market cap back up to $1,374.612 billion. The domestic newcomers such as Li Auto, NIO, and XPeng Motors showed varied performances, with Li Auto down 2.02%, NIO up 0.61%, and XPeng up 3.45%. This was due to increased confidence in Tesla, while domestic automakers showed mixed results in a competitive market.

【Oil and Gold Stocks】

Oil stocks generally rose, with ExxonMobil up 1.62%, Occidental Petroleum up 1.17%, and Chevron up 0.90%. Rising international oil prices supported the stock prices of oil companies. Gold stocks also saw broad increases, with Newmont up 3.03% and Barrick Gold up 1.67%, benefiting from safe-haven sentiment and rising gold prices.

【Cryptocurrency Stocks】

Cryptocurrency stocks surged, with Coinbase Global up 7.66% and Riot Platforms up 9.97%. As core inflation unexpectedly slowed, Bitcoin prices rose, boosting related stocks. The market's expectations that Trump might push for cryptocurrency policy reforms also lifted the sector.

【Other Sectors to Watch】

Retail stocks showed mixed results, with Home Depot up 3.36% and Target down 1.44%. Bank stocks broadly increased, with Wells Fargo up 6.63%, thanks to favorable CPI data and solid bank earnings reports. Vaccine stocks were mixed, with Moderna up 0.90% and Pfizer down 0.74%. Overall, the U.S. stock market was influenced by economic data and policy developments, with strong performances in tech and semiconductor sectors providing market support. Investors should continue to monitor macroeconomic data and policy changes affecting various industries, particularly in the current environment of high uncertainty, and maintain a prudent investment strategy.