Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] Solid early strength in the information technology sector (+1.2%) has pushed the S&P 500 (+0.3%) and Nasdaq Composite (+0.7%) to solid early gains, while weakness in the broader market keeps the DJIA (+0.1%) near its flatline. 

NVIDIA (NVDA 185.32, +5.40, +3.00%) jumps out to a strong start, building on yesterday's 1.7% gain and contributing to a 2.4% gain in the PHLX Semiconductor Index.

Alphabet (GOOG 317.25, +2.13, +0.68%) is also modestly higher after facing some profit-taking yesterday, helping the communication services sector (+0.1%) remain above its flatline.

Strength elsewhere is limited to just the industrials sector (+0.3%). 

Losses across the seven other sectors are relatively modest, though there are a few exceptions. The energy sector (-1.6%) gives back yesterday's gain as the price of oil decreases $0.92 (-1.6%) to $58.40 per barrel. 

Meanwhile, the consumer staples sector (-0.9%) retreats as a majority of its components trade lower.