Wall Street Ends the Week Higher
The S&P 500 closed higher on Friday, supported by gains in major technology stocks, and finished the week in positive territory. The broad index rose 0.42% to 7,575.39, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.29% to end at 26,281.61. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 149.60 points, or 0.29%, to close at 52,637.01.
Nvidia and Meta Lead the Advance
Nvidia helped lift the S&P 500 with a gain of around 4%. Meta Platforms also stood out, rising about 6% during the session. The stock gained nearly 15% for the week, marking its strongest weekly performance since early 2024.
Bank of America Keeps Buy Rating on Meta
Meta’s rally came after Bank of America maintained its buy rating on the company. The firm pointed to an internal memo reviewed by Reuters that suggested Meta may be improving its artificial intelligence cost structure, a signal that supported investor confidence in the stock.
Weekly Performance Remains Mixed
For the week, the S&P 500 advanced more than 1%. The Nasdaq also finished with a weekly gain of more than 1%, while the Dow moved in the opposite direction and fell 0.5% over the same period.
SK Hynix Makes Its U.S. Debut
South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix debuted in the United States on Friday. Its American depositary receipts opened at $170 on the Nasdaq and were last trading roughly 13% higher. The shares had been priced at $149 each.
Memory Chip Demand Drives Interest
SK Hynix has attracted strong attention this year because of surging demand for memory chips tied to artificial intelligence. However, some traders are concerned that the new listing could compete for investor capital with U.S. memory names such as Micron Technology.
Asian Markets React Before the Listing
Ahead of the U.S. debut, South Korean equities led gains across Asia-Pacific markets. The Kospi rose 2.5% on Friday, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.2%. Mainland China’s CSI 300 fell 1.96%, pressured by weakness in technology and industrial stocks.
Europe Finishes Near Flat
In Europe, the pan-European Stoxx 600 ended just above the flatline. The muted move reflected a cautious global market environment as investors weighed technology momentum, geopolitical risks and expectations for upcoming corporate results.
Chip Stocks Have Already Surged in 2026
Although semiconductor stocks have faced some pressure recently, several names remain sharply higher for the year. Micron has already climbed more than 200% in 2026, while Lam Research, Marvell Technology and Intel have each more than doubled year to date.
Concerns Grow Over AI Euphoria
Eric Parnell, chief market strategist at Great Valley Advisor Group, warned that enthusiasm around artificial intelligence has become intense. “There’s been so much euphoria around the AI boom going all the way back to the summer of 2023,” he said. “We’re clearly in a boom phase right now, but I do have genuine concerns about some sort of bust coming in the second half of the year.”
Oil Prices and Iran Talks Support Sentiment
Friday’s moves followed a rally in U.S. stocks on Thursday, helped by lower oil prices after President Donald Trump said Iran had called to make a deal. Qatar and Pakistan are working to bring Washington and Tehran back into negotiations.
Technical Talks Continue Despite Attacks
An administration official said the United States and Iran would continue “technical talks” even after air attacks from both sides. The official also said Washington remains committed to finding a solution to the Middle East conflict.
Ceasefire Uncertainty Remains
Earlier in the week, Trump said the ceasefire between the United States and Iran was over. Even so, markets appeared to take some reassurance from signs that diplomatic channels remain open, helping technology shares support another positive close for the S&P 500.
