U.S. Stocks Hit Fresh Records as Nvidia Breaks $204 Amid AI Surge
The S&P 500 edged closer to 7,000, gaining 0.2% to break above 6,900 intraday for the first time. The Dow Jones added 162 points, while the Nasdaq Composite led with a 0.8% jump. Futures showed muted movement overnight, with Dow futures dipping 0.07% and Nasdaq 100 futures inching up 0.02%.
Nvidia surged nearly 2% in after-hours trading, hitting a record $204 as AI-driven momentum continues to propel the chipmaker. The rally contrasts with Japan's top-heavy Nikkei 225, which spiked 2.17% but saw only 43 stocks advance—the fewest gainers in a +1.7% rally. Advantest Corp. and SoftBank accounted for 60% of the index's gains this year, highlighting extreme concentration.
South Korea's Kospi mirrored the bullish sentiment, jumping over 1%. The AI narrative remains dominant, with Nvidia's performance underscoring the sector's outsized influence on global markets.
