Risk appetite returned on Wednesday as investors piled into equities and digital assets ahead of Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA)'s highly anticipated earnings report due after the close.
The Nasdaq 100 climbed 1.2% to 25,280 points, powered by gains in mega-cap tech and AI-linked names.
The S&P 500 rose 0.7% to 6,941.26, trading less than 1% below record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.6%, while small caps lagged, with the Russell 2000 up 0.2%.
Software stocks extended their rebound for a second straight session, making the group the top-performing industry. Salesforce Inc. (NYSE:CRM), down roughly 25% year to date, is also set to report earnings after the bell.
By 12:45 p.m. in New York, momentum remained firmly skewed toward growth stocks. Technology and Financials led gains, while Energy and Consumer Staples underperformed.
Among other earnings movers, CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:CAVA) jumped 25.05%, while Everus Construction Group, Inc. (NYSE:ECG) advanced 31.58%.
On the downside, GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE:GDDY) tumbled 17.05%, First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) fell 12.24% and CoStar Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSGP) dropped 10.98%.
In commodities, gold gained 1.4% to trade above $5,200 per ounce. Silver surged 4% to $90, extending its recent outperformance.
Markets now await Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA)'s results for confirmation that AI-driven earnings momentum remains intact. The report is widely viewed as a key catalyst for broader technology sentiment heading into month-end.
Crypto Markets Mirror Risk-On Tone
- Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) jumped over 7%, marking its best session in three weeks.
- Ethereum rallied 11%
- Cardano surged 14%.
The upward move followed strong earnings from Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE:CRCL), which helped fuel renewed optimism in digital asset infrastructure plays. Shares of Circle Internet Group rallied 29%.
Wednesday's Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs
| Major Indices | Price | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Nasdaq 100 | 25,279.95 | +1.2% |
| S&P 500 | 6,941.26 | +0.7% |
| Dow Jones | 49,446.76 | +0.6% |
| Russell 2000 | 2,657.81 | +0.2% |
According to Benzinga Pro:
- The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:VOO) rose 0.7% to $636.51.
- The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE:DIA) rose 0.5% to $494.27.
- The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:QQQ) rallied 1.2% to $615.07.
- The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:IWM) traded 0.3% higher to $264.28.
- The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLK) outperformed, up 1.8%; the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLE) lagged, down 0.9%.
Russell 1000's Top 5 Gainers And Losers On Wednesday
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