U.S. stocks kicked off the week on a strong note, finishing higher across the board as investors welcomed solid bank earnings and a calmer macro backdrop. The Dow led gains, powered by a rebound in industrials and financials—Honeywell (HON) rose after raising full-year guidance tied to aerospace demand, while Goldman Sachs (GS) climbed following a strong beat on trading revenue. The S&P 500 was boosted by broad gains in healthcare and consumer names: AbbVie (ABBV) rallied on positive trial results for a new immunology drug, and Target (TGT) climbed after upbeat weekend traffic reports and back-to-school promotions. The Nasdaq followed suit, with strength in AI and cloud names—ServiceNow (NOW) advanced on bullish analyst commentary, and Micron Technology (MU) rose alongside a rebound in chipmakers. Energy stocks also edged higher as crude prices stabilized. With earnings season gaining momentum and no immediate Fed headlines to stir volatility, Monday’s session reflected renewed risk appetite and a steady return of buying interest. Market Drivers: 📱Technology: ServiceNow Rallies, Micron Rebounds: ServiceNow (NOW) climbed following bullish analyst upgrades tied to enterprise AI demand and workflow automation trends. Micron Technology (MU) advanced alongside broader semiconductor strength, supported by growing optimism around memory pricing stabilization and AI infrastructure investment. 🏦 Financials: Goldman Pops, Bank of NY Steady: Goldman Sachs (GS) gained after reporting strong trading and asset management revenue, helping to lift overall sentiment in the sector. Bank of New York Mellon (BK) held steady ahead of its earnings report, with investors focused on fee income trends and institutional flows. 🚗 Automotive: General Motors Advances, Nio Slips: General Motors (GM) rose as the company reaffirmed its full-year margin outlook and announced expanded EV charging partnerships. Nio Inc. (NIO) slipped modestly on cautious commentary about Q3 export demand and pricing pressure in China’s EV market. 🏥 Healthcare: AbbVie Jumps, Gilead Eases: AbbVie (ABBV) surged after announcing positive late-stage results for its new immunology treatment, reigniting bullish sentiment in large-cap pharma. Gilead Sciences (GILD) eased slightly despite reaffirming guidance, as traders rotated toward higher-growth biotech names. 🍔 Consumer Discretionary: Target Gains, Lululemon Lags: Target (TGT) moved higher on strong weekend foot traffic and positive retail channel commentary tied to back-to-school promotions. Lululemon Athletica (LULU) dipped as analysts flagged ongoing margin pressure from markdown activity and international expansion costs. The safest stocks in America[ad] |