Wall Street’s S&P 500 and Japan’s Nikkei hit record highs amid AI boom
The S&P 500 and Japan’s Nikkei reached record levels, driven by excitement around AI.
Nvidia's stock soared, achieving the largest single-day market value jump of $277 billion.
This came after the chipmaker announced robust earnings and optimistic sales projections, fueled by high demand for AI chips. The S&P 500 rose 2.1%, the Dow Jones 1.2%, and the Nasdaq increased by 3%, approaching its peak. Europe's Stoxx 600 also hit a record.
The Nikkei's rise to 39,098.68 marked a historic recovery, surpassing its 1989 closing figure for the first time. Factors such as domestic economic prospects and the yen's decline also played a role. Nvidia's earnings were deemed a 'game-changing moment' for technology, with its CEO declaring the AI market at a tipping point.
The surge in Nvidia's shares benefited other AI and tech companies like AMD and Arm Holdings. With first-quarter revenue potentially rising by 233%, Nvidia's performance bolstered confidence in its sustained growth, with its results surpassing high market expectations and inspiring a positive outlook from analysts.
Nvidia's success has been a significant factor in the broader market rally, with its shares becoming the top performer in the S&P 500. The tech giant's ongoing growth defied concerns about potential market disruption due to unmet expectations.