Technology shares led a broad market rally on Thursday, lifting U.S. stock indexes to new records after Nvidia announced a partnership with Intel to develop products for data centers and personal computers. Intel surged to its best day since 1987, underscoring the market’s emphasis on AI-related hardware and software as a driver of growth.
The day’s trading produced broad-based gains across the three major benchmarks. The S&P 500 rose 31.61 points, or 0.5%, to 6,631.96. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 124.10 points, or 0.3%, to 46,142.42. The Nasdaq composite climbed 209.40 points, or 0.9%, to 22,470.73. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies advanced 60.35 points, or 2.5%, to 2,467.70. All three benchmarks posted all-time highs, joining the Russell 2000 in reaching a fresh peak for the first time in years.
For the week, the S&P 500 is up 0.7%, the Dow up 0.7%, the Nasdaq up 1.5%, and the Russell 2000 up 2.9%. For the year, the S&P 500 has gained 750.33 points, or 12.8%; the Dow is higher by 3,598.20 points, or 8.5%; the Nasdaq has risen 3,159.93 points, or 16.4%; and the Russell 2000 has advanced 237.54 points, or 10.7%.
Treasury yields climbed in the bond market following encouraging reports on the economy, as investors priced in continued growth and inflation signals. The move reflects a shift toward risk-on sentiment that has supported technology stocks and high-growth names in recent sessions.
The day’s rally underscores ongoing appetite for technology shares, which have led the market’s ascent this year. While the Nvidia-Intel partnership anchors optimism about AI infrastructure and related products for data centers and computing devices, the broader market narrative remains focused on durable economic momentum and earnings prospects for the tech sector. In the culture and entertainment space, the strength in technology equities resonates with developers, studios, and creators who increasingly rely on advanced computing power and AI-driven tools to produce and distribute content across streaming, gaming, and interactive media.