The stock market saw a mixed performance on Thursday as traders eagerly awaited corporate earnings reports from major U.S. banks. Despite inflation concerns causing a dip earlier in the week, tech shares led a strong comeback, with the Nasdaq reaching a record high and the S&P 500 also making significant gains. Apple stood out as one of the top performers, jumping 4.3% after announcing plans to revamp its Mac products using new AI-focused chips, marking its best day since 2023.
As the market continues to be driven by AI technology, investors are closely watching which stocks will maintain momentum in the current bull run. The divergence between the tech-focused Nasdaq and the more traditional Dow Jones index highlights the ongoing shift in market dynamics. With the first quarter earnings season kicking off, financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and BlackRock are set to reveal their financial results, potentially influencing market sentiment moving forward. Overall, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are showing resilience, while the Dow remains the weaker performer for the week.