Stock Market Today: Nasdaq-100 Stretching Win Streak; Chip Stocks KLA, Kulicke & Soffa Jump (Live Coverage)

Why It Matters

The rally highlights how geopolitical cues and strong semiconductor earnings can offset macro‑economic headwinds, shaping short‑term market direction and investor sentiment toward AI‑related tech.

Key Takeaways

• Nasdaq-100 up 0.6%, seventh consecutive gain
• KLA and Kulicke & Soffa surge over 5% each
• CoreWeave shares rise after $21B Meta AI cloud extension
• Dow rebounds 0.8% on Trump‑Israel cease‑fire news
• Inflation and GDP miss forecasts, keeping Fed cautious

Pulse Analysis

The latest market bounce underscores the delicate balance between geopolitical developments and economic data. When President Trump publicly called for an end to Israeli strikes on Lebanon, risk sentiment improved, prompting the Dow to claw back early losses and push past the 48,000 level. This reaction illustrates how quickly markets can pivot on diplomatic headlines, especially when they alleviate concerns about broader regional instability that could impact oil supplies and global growth.

Equally important is the sustained momentum in the semiconductor ecosystem. KLA’s breakout from a multi‑month base and Kulicke & Soffa’s five‑plus‑percent jump reflect investor confidence in the long‑term demand for chip‑making equipment, driven by AI model training and data‑center expansion. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF’s modest gain further validates the sector’s resilience, even as broader indices wrestle with mixed macro signals. Analysts see these firms as bellwethers for the next wave of technology spending, positioning them as attractive targets for growth‑oriented portfolios.

On the AI frontier, CoreWeave’s new $21 billion commitment from Meta signals a deepening partnership between cloud providers and hyperscale AI workloads. The deal not only boosts CoreWeave’s revenue outlook but also highlights the escalating competition for AI infrastructure capacity. Coupled with hotter‑core PCE inflation and a softer‑than‑expected GDP reading, the market is likely to remain volatile, with investors weighing the upside of AI‑driven earnings against the Federal Reserve’s potential tightening path.