Nasdaq 100 and S&P500: Chip Stocks Power US Indices Rally Today After Two-Day Slide

• Taiwan Semiconductor's record quarter ignited chip stock momentum, with Nvidia and AMD up 1.00% and Micron up 3.00%; President Trump's 25% tariff on certain semiconductors also boosted the sector
• Banking stocks contributed to the rally with Morgan Stanley jumping over 3% and Goldman Sachs gaining 2% after beating fourth-quarter earnings estimates
• Energy sector declined 1.50% as crude oil prices fell on easing Iran tensions following Trump's remarks, with Exxon Mobil dropping 0.66% after a 3% gain the previous session

Market Summary: Chip Stocks Drive US Indices Recovery

Key Market Movements

US major indices rallied on Thursday, January 15, 2026, rebounding from a two-day decline. As of 15:02 GMT:

• S&P 500: 6,962.88, up 0.52%
• Nasdaq Composite: 23,648.25, up 0.75%
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 49,355.60, up 0.42%

Sector Performance

Technology led gains with a 1.41% increase, while Energy fell 1.50%. Seven of eleven sectors traded positive.

Key Drivers

Semiconductor Rally: Taiwan Semiconductor sparked the tech surge after reporting record quarterly results with a 35% profit jump, reinforcing AI confidence. Major chip stocks followed:

• Nvidia: +1.00%
• Advanced Micro Devices: +1.00%
• Micron Technology: +3.00%

President Trump's proclamation of a 25% tariff on certain semiconductors also influenced chip stock momentum.

Financial Sector: Banking stocks advanced on strong earnings:

• Morgan Stanley: +3% on better-than-expected results
• Goldman Sachs: +2% after beating Q4 estimates

Energy Weakness: Crude oil prices dropped sharply following Trump's comments about easing Iran tensions, dragging Exxon Mobil down 0.66%.

Technical Outlook

March E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures recovered key trendlines at 25,655.00 and 25,708.50, targeting resistance at 26,045.50 and 26,123.50 before the contract high of 26,670.00. E-mini S&P 500 futures rebounded from 6,923.25, eyeing the contract high at 7,026.25.

Analysts project continued bullish momentum if chip and AI stocks maintain leadership and support levels hold.