{"id":355853,"date":"2026-01-06T21:31:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T21:31:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/355853\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T21:31:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T21:31:06","slug":"chip-stocks-jump-on-ai-optimism-dow-ends-at-record-high","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/355853\/","title":{"rendered":"Chip stocks jump on AI optimism; Dow ends at record high"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Cooling systems firms fall after Nvidia CEO&#8217;s commentsMemory and storage chipmakers hit record highsStock valuations pricey ahead of earnings seasonS&amp;P 500 +0.62%, Nasdaq +0.65%, Dow +0.99%<\/p>\n<p>Jan 6 (Reuters) &#8211; Wall Street ended higher on Tuesday, as chip stocks surged on renewed AI optimism, Moderna rallied and the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a record high.<\/p>\n<p>Moderna <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/companies\/MRNA.O\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(MRNA.O), opens new tab<\/a> jumped almost 11% after BofA Global Research raised its price target on the drugmaker, helping lift the S&amp;P 500 healthcare index <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/quote\/.SPXHC\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(.SPXHC), opens new tab<\/a> 1.96%.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"promo-box\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__promo-box__hVl8h\"> Sign up  <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/wall-street-futures-muted-investors-pause-after-rally-2026-01-06\/undefined?location=article-paragraph&amp;redirectUrl=%2Fbusiness%2Fwall-street-futures-muted-investors-pause-after-rally-2026-01-06%2F\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Memory and storage technology stocks rallied after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, speaking at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/nvidia-ceo-huang-take-stage-ces-las-vegas-competition-mounts-2026-01-05\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">gave details <\/a> that include a new layer of storage technology.SanDisk <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/companies\/SNDK.O\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(SNDK.O), opens new tab<\/a> jumped over 27%, Western Digital <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/companies\/WDC.O\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(WDC.O), opens new tab<\/a> rallied 17%, Seagate Technology <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/companies\/STX.O\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(STX.O), opens new tab<\/a> gained 14% and Micron Technology <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/companies\/MU.O\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(MU.O), opens new tab<\/a> rose 10%, with all four stocks hitting record highs.The PHLX chip index <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/quote\/.SOX\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(.SOX), opens new tab<\/a> also hit an all-time high, up 2.75% for the day and bringing its gain in the first three trading sessions of 2026 to about 8%.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think we&#8217;re going to have a very strong earnings season for Big Tech, and all those capex estimates that we hear about are going to be revised higher again,&#8221; said Jed Ellerbroek, portfolio manager at Argent Capital in St. Louis.<\/p>\n<p>S&amp;P 500 components so far in 2026<\/p>\n<p>Investors are looking forward to reliable economic data as the effects of a record 43-day federal government shutdown wear off, and upcoming releases include the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey on Wednesday and Friday\u2019s jobs report for December. Weaker-than-expected employment data could strengthen the case for central bank interest rate cuts.<\/p>\n<p>Heading into fourth-quarter earnings season in the next few weeks, valuations on Wall Street remain relatively pricey. The S&amp;P 500 is trading at about 22 times expected earnings, down from 23 in November, but above the index&#8217;s five-year average of 19, according to LSEG data.<\/p>\n<p>The S&amp;P 500 climbed 0.62% to end the session at 6,944.82 points.<\/p>\n<p>The Nasdaq gained 0.65% to 23,547.17 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.99% to 49,462.08 points, nearing the historic 50,000 mark.<\/p>\n<p>Volume on U.S. exchanges was relatively heavy, with 18.7 billion shares traded, compared with an average of 16.1 billion shares over the previous 20 sessions.<\/p>\n<p>Data on Tuesday showed S&amp;P Global&#8217;s final composite PMI slipped to 52.7 in December from 53.0 in the prior month, while the services PMI eased to 52.5 from 52.9.<\/p>\n<p>Markets also parsed comments from Richmond Federal Reserve President Tom Barkin, who reiterated the U.S. central bank&#8217;s <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/feds-barkin-says-us-facing-risks-both-central-bank-mandates-2026-01-06\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">careful take<\/a> on further cuts, in contrast to Governor Stephen Miran&#8217;s call for <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/boards-policy-regulation\/fed-should-deliver-big-rate-cuts-this-year-miran-tells-fox-business-2026-01-06\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">aggressive cuts<\/a> in a Fox Business interview.Investors brushed aside fears of broader geopolitical fallout after U.S. forces <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/americas\/loud-noises-heard-venezuela-capital-southern-area-without-electricity-2026-01-03\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro<\/a> over the weekend, betting the move could pave the way for U.S. firms to gain access to Venezuela&#8217;s oil reserves.Oil stocks dipped after robust gains in the prior session, with giants Exxon Mobil <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/companies\/XOM.N\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(XOM.N), opens new tab<\/a> and Chevron <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/companies\/CVX.N\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(CVX.N), opens new tab<\/a> losing 3.4% and 4.5%, respectively.Comments by Nvidia&#8217;s Huang about the efficiency of the company&#8217;s new chips <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/amd-unveils-new-chips-ces-event-las-vegas-2026-01-06\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">raised concerns<\/a> about demand for data center cooling systems. Shares of Johnson Controls <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/companies\/JCI.N\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(JCI.N), opens new tab<\/a> fell 6.2%, while Trane Technologies dropped 2.5%.AIG <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/companies\/AIG.N\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(AIG.N), opens new tab<\/a> shares tumbled 7.5% after the insurance giant said CEO Peter Zaffino <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/boards-policy-regulation\/aig-ceo-zaffino-step-down-transition-executive-chair-2026-01-06\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">would step down<\/a>.Advancing issues outnumbered falling ones within the S&amp;P 500 <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/companies\/.AD.SPX\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(.AD.SPX), opens new tab<\/a> by a 3.1-to-one ratio.<\/p>\n<p>The S&amp;P 500 posted 62 new highs and 8 new lows; the Nasdaq recorded 126 new highs and 42 new lows.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"SignOff\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 sign-off-module__text__LQAMP\">Reporting by Noel Randewich in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Purvi Agarwal and Nikhil Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel and Matthew Lewis<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__element__5eCce article-body-module__trust-badge__5mS3f\">Our Standards: <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thomsonreuters.com\/en\/about-us\/trust-principles.html\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__medium__2Rl30 text-module__small__sph8i link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reutersagency.com\/en\/licensereuterscontent\/?utm_medium=rcom-article-media&amp;utm_campaign=rcom-rcp-lead\" target=\"_blank\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"button-module__link__A3sD0 button-module__secondary__70gBu button-module__round__QDFgq button-module__w_auto__Sem-F\" data-testid=\"LicenceContentButton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Purchase Licensing Rights<\/a><a data-testid=\"AuthorBioImageLink\" class=\"author-bio-module__author-image__jcaG3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/authors\/noel-randewich\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" tabindex=\"-1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 author-bio-module__description__9ynkB\">San Francisco correspondent covering the stock market with a focus on Big Tech, semiconductors and other Silicon Valley companies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Cooling systems firms fall after Nvidia CEO&#8217;s commentsMemory and storage chipmakers hit record highsStock valuations pricey ahead of&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":355854,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[136837,136842,136838,131649,131469,84,132261,131628,132277,131657,132301,132264,11699,132265,59,90958,136839,13375,132271,132300,135083,131651,131472,136840,136841,22829,90959,105212,131631,80556,132306,132313,132312,56,54,55,741,131647],"class_list":{"0":"post-355853","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-n","9":"tag-n-c","10":"tag-n-p","11":"tag-amers","12":"tag-blr","13":"tag-business","14":"tag-cen","15":"tag-cmpny","16":"tag-destortao","17":"tag-destousbsm","18":"tag-eci","19":"tag-eco","20":"tag-fin","21":"tag-fins","22":"tag-gb","23":"tag-gen","24":"tag-insr","25":"tag-int","26":"tag-mce","27":"tag-mktrep","28":"tag-mtgfx","29":"tag-namer","30":"tag-news1","31":"tag-pins","32":"tag-pins1","33":"tag-pmi","34":"tag-pol","35":"tag-potus","36":"tag-publ","37":"tag-rep","38":"tag-stx","39":"tag-topcmb","40":"tag-topnws","41":"tag-uk","42":"tag-united-kingdom","43":"tag-unitedkingdom","44":"tag-us","45":"tag-wash"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/355853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=355853"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/355853\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/355854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=355853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=355853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=355853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}