US stock market today: Wall Street advances as Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq gain on Nvidia, Oracle strength

U.S. stocks opened the holiday-shortened week on a positive note as technology shares led a broad but measured rebound. The S&P 500 rose 0.4% in early trading Monday, signaling cautious optimism among investors heading into year-end. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added about 107 points, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed roughly 0.6%. Trading volumes remained lighter than usual as Wall Street adjusted to a shortened Christmas week, but buying interest returned to large-cap technology and artificial intelligence-linked stocks.

Markets are coming off a mixed prior week. A late surge in tech helped the S&P 500 and Nasdaq post their third weekly gains in four. The Dow, however, slipped 0.7%, ending a three-week winning streak. Monday’s early strength suggests investors are selectively rotating back into growth leaders, even as valuation concerns linger.

US stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq edge higher

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 48,248.26 ▲ 113.37 (+0.24%)
• S&P 500: 6,863.38 ▲ 28.88 (+0.42%)
• Nasdaq Composite: 23,421.03 ▲ 113.41 (+0.49%)

Artificial intelligence-focused stocks once again provided momentum. NVIDIA shares rose more than 1% after reports said the chipmaker aims to begin shipments of its H200 processors to China by mid-February, pending regulatory approvals. The news renewed optimism around Nvidia’s international revenue pipeline and helped lift broader semiconductor sentiment.


Other major technology names followed. Micron Technology gained close to 3% as investors continued to price in strong demand for high-bandwidth memory tied to AI workloads. Oracle added over 1%, extending last week’s rebound after the company re-entered investor focus following strategic deal headlines and bullish analyst commentary.

Top gainers & most-active stocks

• Autozi Internet Technology (Global) Ltd. (AZI): $3.81 ▲ 52.60% | Vol 29M
  
  
• Creative Media & Community Trust Corporation (CMCT): $4.01 ▲ 25.71% | Vol 35M
  
  
• Rocket Lab Corporation (RKLB): $76.43 ▲ 8.38% | Vol 13M
  
  
• Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. (CWAN): $24.11 ▲ 8.34% | Vol 38M
  
  
• IREN Limited (IREN): $42.96 ▲ 7.62% | Vol 11M
  
  
• Opendoor Technologies Inc (OPEN): $6.75 ▲ 6.15% | Vol 12M
  
  
• Tesla, Inc. (TSLA): $494.32 ▲ 2.73% | Vol 19M
  
  
• NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA): $183.84 ▲ 1.57% | Vol 29M
  
  
• Ondas Holdings, Inc. (ONDS): $9.55 ▲ 3.58% | Vol 15M
  
  
• Plug Power Inc. (PLUG): $2.23 ▲ 1.36% | Vol 12M

Wall Street watches leadership shift and year-end trends

Despite the rebound, investors remain divided on whether AI stocks can maintain leadership into year-end. Some market participants are rotating toward cheaper sectors after months of tech outperformance. There is also growing uncertainty around the so-called Santa Claus rally, as the S&P 500 struggles to decisively hold key technical levels.

Justin Bergner, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, described the market tone as more churn than rally. His comments reflect broader sentiment that gains may be incremental rather than explosive as 2026 approaches.

Market movers and corporate news shape sentiment

Beyond tech, several individual stocks drew attention. Asset manager Janus Henderson agreed to be acquired by Trian Fund Management and General Catalyst in a $7.4 billion cash deal, highlighting ongoing consolidation in financial services. Elsewhere, Warner Bros. Discovery shares climbed after confirmation of financing backing tied to Larry Ellison, adding momentum to media stocks.

Crypto-linked equities also advanced as bitcoin rebounded toward $90,000, lifting names such as Strategy and Mara Holdings. Industrial stocks were mixed after Honeywell disclosed a one-time fourth-quarter charge tied to settlement talks.

Holiday trading schedule and what investors should know

The New York Stock Exchange will close early at 1 p.m. ET on Christmas Eve and remain closed on Christmas Day. With fewer trading sessions and thinner liquidity ahead, analysts expect muted moves, headline-driven volatility, and selective positioning rather than broad market swings.

For now, Wall Street is entering the final stretch of the year with cautious confidence, driven by AI optimism, selective bargain-hunting, and close attention to whether tech can continue to lead into 2026.