Overview
- U.S. stocks closed higher Monday, with the Dow up 0.81%, the S&P 500 up 1.54% and the Nasdaq up 2.27%.
- AI-linked leaders paced gains: Nvidia rose 5.79%, Palantir climbed 8.8% and Alphabet added 3.89% as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index advanced 3.02%.
- Senate progress toward a deal lifted risk appetite, though a final resolution still requires House approval and timing remains uncertain.
- The data picture stays clouded as the shutdown stalls official reports and University of Michigan consumer sentiment slid to 50.3, near historic lows.
- Cross-currents moderated risk-taking, with China’s CPI up 0.2% year over year, defensives drawing interest, the dollar easing against the euro and pound, and airline stocks falling on widening flight disruptions and FAA capacity cuts.