Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The S&P 500 (+0.1%), Nasdaq Composite (+0.1%), and DJIA (flat) are mostly higher shortly after the open as the information technology sector (+0.4%) jumps out to a strong start against a flattish backdrop in the broader market. 

The technology sector is the only S&P 500 sector with a gain or loss wider than 0.2%, as action remains muted this holiday week. Still, the tech-led gains pushed the S&P 500 to another fresh record high. 

NVIDIA (NVDA 191.83, +3.22, +1.71%) leads the advance, boosted by being one of very few companies with a news headline this morning. The company executed a roughly $20 billion Christmas Eve strategic transaction with AI inference startup Groq, structured as a non-exclusive licensing agreement paired with a high-profile acqui-hire of Groq's founder, president, and senior engineering talent.