Nasdaq 100: Amazon spikes, Palantir jumps after-hours — tech stocks lift US indices today

Amazon jumped after announcing a partnership allowing OpenAI to scale its workloads on Amazon Web Services, further cementing AWS’s role in powering AI infrastructure.

Nvidia shares also advanced after former President Trump stated that the company’s top-tier AI chips would remain within U.S. borders, reinforcing expectations for domestic tech investment. These developments helped propel the Nasdaq to a 0.46% gain.

Despite gains in the tech-heavy index, market breadth was limited. Just a few sectors posted meaningful advances, with the rally driven largely by heavyweight names. The S&P 500 rose 0.18%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.46%, dragged lower by UnitedHealth and Merck.

Which Sectors Outperformed, and Which Lagged?

The consumer discretionary sector led with a 1.7% gain, helped by Amazon’s rally. Technology rose 0.39%, while utilities and healthcare were marginally higher.

However, industrials, financials, and materials all closed in the red. Kimberly-Clark slid after announcing a $40 billion acquisition of Tylenol-maker Kenvue, raising concerns about leverage and integration costs.

Overall, the gains were not broadly shared, suggesting continued investor preference for large-cap growth stocks over cyclical or defensive plays.