Major US indices traded north on Monday with balanced fresh macroeconomic uncertainty with persistent optimism around technology, AI leadership, & pharmaceuticals. The S&P 500 rose 0.26% to 6,661.21, finishing near recent highs with all 11 sectors in positive territory by the closing bell. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.48% to 22,591.15, outperforming its peers as large-cap tech shares rebounded. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged higher by .15% to 46,316.07. The Russell 2000 Index moved up .04% to close at 2,435.25.
Macroeconomic Reports
Despite the focus on looming federal government shutdown risk, there were no major US economic reports released today. The Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index for September was on the calendar but had a muted market impact. Market participants are watching the threat of delayed employment and inflation data later in the week if a shutdown materializes, potentially leaving the Fed and markets in a data vacuum. Recent data—such as revised US Q2 GDP at 3.8% and stable core PCE inflation at 2.9%—have reinforced views of ongoing economic resilience.
Key Company Highlights
Apple (AAPL): Apple shares traded actively but ended lower by .40% at $254.43 amid continued debate over the iPhone 17 launch. Wedbush raised its price target to $310 based on robust initial demand metrics, though some analysts flagged lengthening upgrade cycles and tougher China competition as medium-term risks. Despite these headwinds, the market rewarded Apple’s focus on its core product lineup.
Broadcom (AVGO): Broadcom closed lower by 1.98% to $327.90, consolidating after a substantial year-to-date gain. The company recently received a credit rating upgrade from Fitch to BBB+ on the strength of AI semiconductor growth, robust cash flow, and successful VMware integration, supporting prospects for continued deal activity and dividend growth. Analyst sentiment remaining firmly positive.
NVIDIA (NVDA): Nvidia rallied more than 2.05% to$181.85 after rebounding from last week’s profit-taking. Analysts continue to highlight decelerating revenue growth (56% YoY, down from prior triple-digit gains) but maintain a bullish stance driven by AI infrastructure demand, the Blackwell platform, and new robotics research initiatives. Nvidia’s major partnership with OpenAI, involving a $100 billion commitment to future AI data centers, underscores its strategic lead in next-gen compute.
Tesla (TSLA): Tesla shares were little changed today adding +.64% to $443.21, underperforming tech peers as investors digested mixed signals about auto demand and regulatory uncertainties. No fresh news headlines drove the stock, which continued to trade in a narrow range.
Meta (META): Meta Platforms closed at $743.40, -.05% on the back of ongoing AI product monetization. Market participants remain focused on the company’s push to expand its advertising and subscription platforms.
McDonald’s (MCD): The stock saw modest losses today closing at $302.99, -.74% as the company maintained its defensive profile and announced steady global same-store sales growth. No major headlines affected trading.
Intel (INTC): Intel retreated 2.87% to $34.48 as profit taking followed its partnership announcement with Nvidia. The collaboration, involving a $5 billion investment in AI infrastructure, reflects Intel’s bid to maintain relevance in the rapidly evolving data center market.
MongoDB (MDB): Shares of MongoDB pulled back .44% to $317 following recent reports of increased enterprise demand for cloud-based data platforms and new AI-powered analytics tools.
Oracle (ORCL): Oracle finished modestly lower at $282.76, -.25%, supported by persistent cloud growth momentum and analyst confidence in the company’s hybrid cloud expansion.
Opendoor (OPEN): Opendoor gained ground early rising to $8.91 before closing down 6.92% at $8,20 amid speculation about a pickup in housing transactions and the potential impact of lower mortgage rates later in the year.
Palantir Technologies (PLTR): Investor enthusiasm for Palantir remained strong as it closed at $178.86, +.73%, with the stock advance extending as government and commercial customer wins drove optimism for recurring software-as-a-service revenue.
Rio Tinto Group (RIO): Rio Tinto traded 1.73% higher to $65.92 as commodity prices stabilized. The firm is watching ongoing developments in global demand, particularly in Asia.
Roche (RHHBY): Roche gained 1.14% to $40.05 as investors favored defensive healthcare plays. Recent trial updates for key products remained supportive.
Eli Lilly (LLY): Lilly continued its run as one of the S&P 500’s top-performing pharma names closing at $726.51, +.27%, buoyed by strong sales momentum and continued innovation in diabetes and obesity therapeutics.
Oklo Inc. (OKLO): Shares advanced +5.41% to $116.51 following optimism surrounding the company’s nuclear energy innovations and progress toward regulatory milestones.
Corporate Actions & IPOs
A historic deal was announced as Electronic Arts (EA, $202.05, +4.50%) agreed to be acquired by an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners in a $55 billion leveraged buyout—the largest such deal ever.
On the IPO front, Jennifer Garner’s Once Upon a Farm completed its listing on the NYSE, generating significant enthusiasm from investors focused on healthy food innovation.
Tariffs, Interest Rates, and Treasuries
President Trump expanded on fresh tariff announcements with new duties taking effect October 1, targeting some movies and manufactured goods. Markets are closely tracking the implications for inflation and supply chains as trade policy remains in flux. The yield curve steepened modestly, with the 2-year Treasury yield edging to 3.635% and the 10-year yield climbing to 4.144% as investors digested resilient economic data and assessed mixed signals over future Fed policy action.
No new FOMC announcements were issued today. Fed officials are in a data-dependent posture given potential delays for key labor market and inflation reports.
Commodities and Crypto
Gold jumped, closing at a new all-time high above $3,860.80 per ounce, as safe-haven inflows accelerated amid political and economic uncertainty. Silver rallied alongside gold, finishing near $47.11 per ounce. Oil prices fell to $63.09 per barrel on ongoing supply concerns. Bitcoin traded near $114,171.58 at session’s end, supported by institutional accumulation and ETF flows.
Top 10 Gainers
Notable standouts among the session’s top gainers included high-beta technology and biotech stocks alongside turnaround stories, as listed on Yahoo Finance’s daily leaderboard.
