US markets end sharply higher on Friday

20 Jan 2024 Evaluate

The US markets ended sharply higher on Friday with Nasdaq settling over 1.50 percent. The run to record highs on markets partly reflected continued strength among tech stocks, which helped lead the advance on Thursday. Optimism about the outlook for earnings have contributed to the continued strength in the tech sector ahead of next week's release of quarterly results from companies like Intel (INTC), IBM Corp. (IBM) and Netflix (NFLX). Computer hardware stocks saw substantial strength on the day, driving the NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index up by 5.1percent to a record closing high. Supermicro (SMCI) led the sector higher, skyrocketing by 35.9 percent after raising its fiscal second quarter guidance amid strong market and end customer demand for its rack-scale, AI and Total IT Solutions.

Meanwhile, the Dow received a boost from a surge by shares of Travelers (TRV), with the insurance giant spiking by 6.7 percent. Travelers moved sharply higher after the company reported fourth quarter earnings that exceeded street estimates. The rally on Wall Street also came after the University of Michigan released a report showing a significant improvement in U.S. consumer sentiment as well as a continued decrease in inflation expectations. The University of Michigan said its consumer sentiment index surged to 78.8 in January after jumping to 69.7 in December. Street had expected the index to inch up to 70.0. With the much bigger than expected increase, the consumer sentiment index reached its highest level since hitting 81.2 in July 2021.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 395.19 points or 1.05 percent to 37,863.8, Nasdaq surged 255.32 points or 1.7 to 15,310.97 and S&P 500 was up by 58.87 points 1.23 percent to 4,839.81.


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