US Stock Market Today: Dow Hits Record High, S&P 500 & Nasdaq Surge as Gold Climbs Above $5,091 & Bitcoin Dips Under $68,000

Stock Market Today Updates: Wall Street opened higher with the S&P 500 rising 0.29% to 6,961.82, the Nasdaq increasing 0.25% to 23,125.26 and the Dow increasing 0.45% to 50,346.23. The artificial intelligence stocks increased with Micron increasing 7% to $437.65 following a rise in earnings while Nvidia increased 1.07% to $192.02 and AMD increased 0.8% to $215.16. The tech sector is rebounding after the

U.S. Market Snapshot

Dow Jones

The Dow Index opened higher, up 0.45% at 50,346.23 with the Index adding over 226 points as investors bought shares in economy sensitive stocks like Walmart and Boeing. Yesterday, it ended almost flat at 50,121 with IBM shares plummeting 6.5%. This higher opening shows the relief felt with a strong employment market with unemployment at 4.3%.

Nasdaq

The Nasdaq Composite Index rose by 0.25% to 23,125.26, mainly driven by AI chip companies but Cisco shares fell by 9% due to weak guidance. Yesterday, the Nasdaq Composite Index declined by 0.2% to 23,066 as the technology sector declined, but it is possible based on the increase in Micron shares in premarket trading.

S&P 500

The S&P 500 Index rose marginally by 0.29% to 6,961.82 as all sectors participated with eight sectors adding to the gains. The positive January jobs report alleviated recession concerns, though rate cut expectations for the Fed diminished somewhat and the energy sector yielded the highest gains, increasing by 2.6%, while the financial sector lost 1.5%.

NYSE

NYSE opened at around a similar open of 0.3 percent gain, accompanied by peers, driven by industrials and retail sectors. The overall trading volumes rose slightly as the earnings season increases with attention shifting from technology stocks to cyclicals following reports of staying put on hiring.

US Stocks Rise Amid Jobs Data

Wall Street opened higher on news of unexpectedly high January payrolls of 130,000 jobs, more than twice what analysts had projected and a decrease to 4.3% in the unemployment rate. But it increases uncertainty on the Fed’s rate trajectory with Friday’s inflation data due to show a 0.3% rise in consumer prices while Cisco’s announcement had a dampening effect on investors.

Coal India Q3 Results

Coal India posted a 16% YoY decline in Q3 net profit at Rs 7,166 crore, weighed down by Rs 2,201 crore pay revision provisions. Revenue fell 5% to Rs 34,924 crore. EBITDA margins fell from 43% to 33%. The company despite reporting weaker numbers declared a dividend of Rs 5.5 per share, taking the total to Rs 15.5 for FY26 so far.

Gold Surges & Bitcoin Dips

Gold futures trading began at $5,107.30 per ounce but rose marginally by 0.2%, registering a year to date increase of 16%. Its gains were driven by risk-off actions, also benefiting from the Fed cuts implemented last year while Bitcoin traded within a range of $69,000 and $90,000. Despite the fall of the tech stocks, gold’s outperformance is a macro fear indicator in the Crypto space.

JPMorgan Downgrades Kraft Heinz

JPMorgan cut Kraft Heinz to underweight from neutral and reduced its price target to $22 from $24 as it sees a dismal 2026 outlook. The bank also pointed out that North America volume is down more than 3% for 19 consecutive quarters and also mentioned that Kraft Heinz has abandoned its split plans. Shares fell around 1.5% to 3.1% or about $24.22 in premarket trading or down some 13% over the last year.

Why US Market Surges Today

A rally digs in as better than expected jobs data eases recession worries, lifting AI shares-Micron jumps about 7% to $437, Nvidia rises around 1% and investors rotate into cyclical names. Still, Cisco’s weaker guidance tempers the mood, and inflation watch keeps enthusiasm in check with initial jobless claims edging just above expectations.

Top Gainers Today

• Micron Technology: +7% to $437.65, AI memory demand sellout for 2026.
• Nvidia: +1.07% to $192.02, chip rally resumption.
• AMD: +0.8% to $215.16, AI processor strength.
• Max Financial: +4.58% to 1,813.50 (India context). [query data]
• HUDCO: +4.50% to 201.93. 

Top Losers Today

• Cisco Systems: -9%, disappointing Q2 guidance.
• KPIT Tech: -7.08% to 891.50 (India). 
• Coforge: -6.50% to 1,421.50. [query data]
• IBM: -6.5% prior session drag.
• Kraft Heinz: -3.1% to $24.22 post-downgrade.

FAQ’s

Why did US indices open higher? 

Strong January jobs at 130k beat estimates, boosting confidence, AI tech like Micron rallied despite Cisco woes.

What hit Coal India’s Profit? 

16% YoY drop to Rs 7,166cr from pay provisions and revenue down 5%, but dividend hiked.

Reasons for JPMorgan’s Kraft Heinz call? 

Underweight on volume slump, weak 2026 EPS and target cut to $22 amid split halt.

Gold up, Bitcoin down why? 

Gold +16% YTD on safe-haven bid; BTC volatile near $69k tied to tech selloff.

Impact of jobs data on Fed? 

Eases recession risk but may delay cuts if CPI hot and unemployment at 4.3%.

Why did small-cap stocks surge 5.4% in January?

Fed rate cuts to 3.50%-3.75% relieved small firms debt loads, sparking a “January Effect” rotation from overvalued large caps with 31% premium amid strong earnings outlook and soft landing optimism.

Why is natural gas surging?

Natural gas jumped 4.31% to $3.29, driven by strong demand expectations and short-term supply dynamics.

How is silver performing compared to gold?

Silver fell 1.11%, underperforming gold as broader precious metals saw mild selling pressure.

Why is Nvidia stock rising today?

Nvidia gained 0.8% to $190.05 as investors continued buying into AI and semiconductor momentum, supported by heavy trading volume.

Why did Intel shares move higher?

Intel climbed 2.46% to $48.29 as renewed optimism around chipmakers lifted semiconductor stocks.