S&P 500 Hits New ATH as AI Stocks Rise and Jobs Data Beats Forecasts
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq have reached fresh record highs on Friday as technology shares advanced and a stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report eased concerns about labour market weakness. The S&P 500 rose above 7,400 for the first time in history during the session, extending a rally that has added about $10 trillion in market value since March 30. The Nasdaq also moved higher, supported by gains in semiconductor and artificial intelligence-linked stocks. At late morning trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.05% at 49,621.33, the S&P 500 gained 0.74% to 7,391.10, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.32% to 26,144.57. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq were on track for a sixth straight weekly gain, which would be their longest winning run since October 2024. Technology stocks led the advance. , while . The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index recovered from Thursdays decline and moved to a new high as investors continued to price in demand for AI infrastructure. Jobs Data Supports Market Sentiment The April employment report showed U.S. job growth exceeded expectations, while the unemployment rate held at 4.3%. Nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000, above economist estimates of 55,000. The data suggested that the labor market remains resilient despite tighter financial conditions and higher energy prices.