US stocks surged on Monday to start the shortened Thanksgiving trading week as US policymakers buoyed hopes for an interest-rate cut in December and AI optimism fueled the tech trade.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) was up almost 2.7%, its biggest daily jump since May. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) advanced more than 1.5%, as Wall Street stocks started to extend Friday’s bounce. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI), which includes fewer tech stocks, put on nearly 0.5%.
Stocks notched another recovery from the pullback that has cooled this year’s AI-driven market rally. Analysts have suggested the end is near for a retreat that has driven notable losses in November, as well as turbulence.
Nvidia (NVDA) jumped more than 1.5%, while Alphabet (GOOG) closed above a record north of $300 for the first time ever. Tesla (TSLA) gained 7% on the heels of a bullish analyst call.
Meanwhile, bitcoin (BTC-USD) also rose as it looked to bust out of a month-long slump. It was last seen hovering above $89,000 after falling near $80,000 late last week.
Investors are heading into the shortened Thanksgiving trading week still debating the odds of an interest-rate cut. On Monday, Christopher Waller joined another influential policymaker, John Williams, in setting the stage for Federal Reserve easing next month.
Delayed economic data releases will start to flow in this week, helping with those calculations. On Tuesday, markets get September updates on producer prices and retail sales, and a November reading of consumer confidence, among other data.
On the earnings front, Alibaba (BABA), and retailers Kohl’s (KSS) and Best Buy (BBY) are the highlights as the season winds down this week.
President Trump’s tariffs are also in play, as top US and EU trade officials meet for their first talks since the two sides reached a deal in July. Markets are weighing how the Supreme Court might jump in its ruling on whether the orders imposing tariffs were legal. The Commerce Department and the Office of the US Trade Representative are reportedly preparing a roadmap if the decision goes against the administration.
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