Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The S&P 500 (+0.3%), Nasdaq Composite (+0.6%), and DJIA (flat) are mostly higher shortly after the open amid mixed strength in the broader market. The early gains push the S&P 500 past yesterday's all-time intraday high, while the Nasdaq Composite is now less than 0.5% off of its own record high.

Several chipmaker names are soaring this morning, sending the PHLX Semiconductor Index 2.0% higher and seating the top-weighted information technology sector (+0.7%) with a solid early gain. Seagate Tech (STX 429.77, +58.01, +15.60%) is the top-performing S&P 500 name after a solid earnings report after the close yesterday. 

Meanwhile, mega-cap tech names are still ticking higher, with the Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF up 0.3%. 

Six total S&P 500 sectors trade higher, with the energy sector (+0.8%) leading the strength as the price of oil increases $0.78 (+1.3%) to $63.17 per barrel. 

Losses are relatively modest, though the health care sector (9.07%) is once again at the bottom of the leaderboard. However, insurer names such as UnitedHealth (UNH 291.26, +8.56, +3.03%) are actually a point of strength after a massive slide yesterday, with today's weakness more of a broad pressure throughout the sector.