Source: Sharecast
At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.37% at 46,315.27, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.49% to 6,664.36, and the Nasdaq Composite saw out the session 0.72% firmer at 22,632.48.
The Dow closed 172.85 points higher on Friday, extending gains recorded in the previous session due to strong gains in the tech sector on hopes that an interest-rate cut will bolster economic growth.
While the Nasdaq continued to benefit from renewed appetite for tech stocks, broader sentiment was tempered by Fed chair Jerome Powell's cautious tone, describing the move as "risk management" rather than the start of a sustained cutting cycle.
Traders have now priced in two more reductions this year, but expectations for 2026 have been scaled back sharply, with the central bank's dot plot signalling just one cut — well below market forecasts.
Adding to the day's volatility, market participants braced for the expiry of September's monthly options contracts, including key positions in equity indices and tech-heavy ETFs. The third Friday of the month typically sees elevated volumes and price swings as positions are rolled or closed, with Nasdaq-linked contracts in particular drawing attention amid renewed sector momentum.
No major macro points or corporate earnings were released on Friday.
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
Dow Jones - Risers
Amgen Inc. (AMGN) $285.41 3.47%
Apple Inc. (AAPL) $245.50 3.20%
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $517.93 1.86%
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) $175.88 1.17%
Salesforce.Com Inc. (CRM) $246.99 1.15%
Visa Inc. (V) $341.42 1.01%
3M Co. (MMM) $156.63 0.77%
Unitedhealth Group Inc. (UNH) $336.59 0.56%
International Business Machines Corporation (CDI) (IBM) $267.18 0.53%
JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $314.78 0.49%
Dow Jones - Fallers
Intel Corp. (INTC) $29.58 -3.24%
Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) $23.53 -2.57%
Nike Inc. (NKE) $70.89 -1.68%
Chevron Corp. (CVX) $156.21 -1.66%
Walmart Inc. (WMT) $102.39 -1.23%
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $113.76 -0.96%
Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) $156.04 -0.81%
Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $68.21 -0.68%
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) $43.49 -0.44%
Home Depot Inc. (HD) $415.67 -0.43%
S&P 500 - Risers
Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (BHF) $57.59 27.24%
Fluor Corp. (FLR) $44.56 5.14%
Eversource Energy (ES) $67.02 4.88%
Newmont Corporation (NEM) $81.69 4.34%
Oracle Corp. (ORCL) $308.66 4.06%
Fortinet Inc. (FTNT) $84.21 3.98%
Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) $41.17 3.67%
Amgen Inc. (AMGN) $285.41 3.47%
Synopsys Inc. (SNPS) $495.50 3.21%
Apple Inc. (AAPL) $245.50 3.20%
S&P 500 - Fallers
Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) $55.14 -6.16%
Harley-Davidson Inc. (HOG) $28.35 -4.81%
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. (CTSH) $66.94 -4.73%
Humana Inc. (HUM) $252.48 -4.61%
Bath & Body Works, Inc. (BBWI) $25.08 -4.56%
Dollar General Corp (DG) $102.06 -4.48%
VF Corp. (VFC) $14.45 -4.43%
Lennar Corp. Class A (LEN) $127.16 -4.18%
Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI) $184.73 -4.16%
Coty Inc. Class A (COTY) $4.11 -3.75%
Nasdaq 100 - Risers
Amgen Inc. (AMGN) $285.41 3.47%
Synopsys Inc. (SNPS) $495.50 3.21%
Apple Inc. (AAPL) $245.50 3.20%
Skyworks Solutions Inc. (SWKS) $78.95 2.49%
Cadence Design Systems Inc. (CDNS) $373.35 2.32%
Tesla Inc (TSLA) $426.07 2.21%
Seagate Technology Plc (STX) $221.23 2.12%
Intuit Inc. (INTU) $687.92 1.92%
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $517.93 1.86%
Marriott International - Class A (MAR) $268.52 1.73%
Nasdaq 100 - Fallers
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. (CTSH) $66.94 -4.73%
Qvc Group Inc Series A (QVCGA) $14.31 -4.66%
Micron Technology Inc. (MU) $162.73 -3.65%
Intel Corp. (INTC) $29.58 -3.24%
Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) $95.26 -3.05%
Hologic Inc. (HOLX) $66.33 -2.84%
Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. (ULTA) $521.47 -2.49%
DENTSPLY Sirona Inc. (XRAY) $13.16 -1.94%
PACCAR Inc. (PCAR) $99.46 -1.93%
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (JBHT) $132.52 -1.88%