Synopsis

US markets ended higher with the S&P 500 near record levels, driven by SK Hynix’s strong Nasdaq debut and renewed momentum in AI-linked chip stocks. Investors remain cautious ahead of earnings season and inflation data, while geopolitical tensions and interest rate uncertainty continue to shape broader market sentiment.

​The S&P 500 rose to end just short of a record high on Friday, as a blockbuster Nasdaq debut of South Korea's SK Hynix fueled optimism about memory-chip makers, while investors looked ahead to quarterly earnings season kicking off next ‌week.

The artificial intelligence ⁠trade ⁠returned to the spotlight after SK Hynix opened 14% above its offering price at $170 in a high-profile U.S. listing. The semiconductor company raised ​over $26 billion on Thursday by selling American Depositary Receipts priced at $149 each. U.S. stocks added to gains after U.S. President ​Donald Trump said that Iran had asked to continue talks and the U.S. had agreed, but that the June ceasefire was "over."

Attacks between the U.S. and Iran this week revived concerns that high energy prices ​could fuel more inflation and force the Federal Reserve to hike ⁠interest rates.

Reports ‌from big U.S. banks will kick off the second-quarter earnings season next week. ​Analysts are ​expecting S&P 500 earnings to surge 24% from a year earlier, with technology companies ⁠driving much of the growth, according to LSEG I/B/E/S.

"This is a ​high-bar quarter with a narrow margin of error," said Terry Sandven, chief ​equity strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management in Minneapolis, Minnesota. "The banks will give us a good read on the underlying economic strength and what consumers and businesses are doing."

Thanks to increased corporate profit estimates, the S&P 500 is trading at about 20 times expected earnings, down from an earnings multiple of 21 in late May, even though the benchmark is trading near record highs.

Chipmakers have been among ‌the biggest beneficiaries of this year's AI-driven rally, fueled by expectations of heavy spending by hyperscalers. But concerns over stretched valuations and profit taking have recently injected volatility ​into the sector.

According ​to preliminary data, the S&P ⁠500 gained 28.72 points, or 0.38%, to end at 7,572.36 points, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 77.52 points, or 0.25%, to 26,273.21. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 148.28 points, or 0.28%, to 52,635.69.

Meta Platforms ​jumped to its highest level since April.

Moderna tumbled in its worst day in over a year.

Next week's June inflation data will offer fresh insight into the Fed's likely monetary policy path, while Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is also scheduled to testify before the House Committee on Financial Services.

Delta Air Lines dropped, even after forecasting third-quarter profit above expectations.

...moreless

...moreless