Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The S&P 500 (+0.7%), Nasdaq Composite (+1.3%), and DJIA (+0.1%) are higher shortly after the open as tech and mega-cap names open 2026 with vigor against a backdrop of mixed strength in the broader market. 

The top-weighted information technology sector (+1.7%) leads the advance, with strength across chipmaker names such as Micron (MU 308.08, +22.67, +7.94%), Intel (INTC 39.27, +2.37, +6.42%), and NVIDIA (NVDA 192.41, +5.91, +3.17%) pushing the PHLX Semiconductor Index 4.4% higher. 

A solid start from Alphabet (GOOG 321.36, +7.56, +2.41%) boosts the communication services (+1.1%) sector, while the other four S&P 500 sectors that hold gains advance more modestly. 

Losses are modest in the five sectors that trade lower. The financials sector (-0.6%) holds the widest loss, with Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B 496.74, -5.91, -1.18%) trading lower following the official retirement of Warren Buffett.

The final reading of the S&P Global U.S. Manufacturing PMI remained unchanged at 51.8.