Stocks End February On A High Note
Today’s market session brought a solid rebound across major indices, helping to close February on a positive note after a stretch of mixed performance. The S&P 500 rose about 1.6%, ending the day at 5,954.50, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.4% to reach 43,840.91. The Nasdaq Composite followed suit with a 1.6% increase, finishing at 18,847.28. These gains marked a welcome turn for investors after several sessions of volatility, with tech stocks and consumer discretionaries leading the charge.
Nvidia’s performance stood out among today’s top movers. The company’s shares surged 3.9%, bouncing back from an 8.5% slump earlier in the week. This recovery was attributed to renewed optimism around its data center and AI-related revenues, which offset broader concerns about rising semiconductor inventories. Similarly, Tesla saw a 3.9% jump, putting an end to a six-day losing streak. Investors were encouraged by early indications of strong demand in key international markets and a successful trial launch of its Full Self-Driving Beta 11.4 update.
On the other hand, Dell Technologies struggled after issuing cautious guidance for its upcoming fiscal year. The company’s shares fell 4.7% as analysts digested a weaker-than-expected outlook, driven largely by ongoing softness in corporate IT spending. This downturn put pressure on other enterprise hardware providers, though the broader tech sector managed to maintain its upward momentum.
From a macroeconomic perspective, today’s key data release was the January Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index. The report showed inflation easing slightly, coming in as expected at a 0.3% month-over-month increase. However, consumer spending unexpectedly declined, suggesting that households might be tightening their belts after the holiday season. This mixed economic picture added complexity to the market narrative, as lower inflation is typically positive for equities, but weaker consumer spending raises questions about future growth.
Overall, the day’s rally helped cap off February on a more upbeat note. While concerns over tariffs, global trade tensions, and lingering inflation risks remain, today’s market action suggested a return of risk appetite—particularly in sectors with strong growth narratives.
