Stock Market News·2025-09-22 18:07Market Performance - U.S. equity markets showed strong performance on September 22, 2025, with major indexes extending their record-setting rally despite early profit-taking and government shutdown concerns [1] - The S&P 500 closed at 6,664.36, up 0.5%, marking a new high, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.7% to 22,631.48, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.4% to 46,315.27 [2] - Afternoon trading saw the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite recover from initial dips, with the S&P 500 up 0.2% and Nasdaq gaining 0.3% [3] Sector Performance - The Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) gained 1% on Friday, driven by developments in artificial intelligence, while the Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE) fell 1.3% [4] - Consumer stocks faced declines, with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) dropping 1% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) shedding 0.3% [4] - Basic Materials showed strength in mid-session trading, indicating a selective market where growth-oriented sectors like technology outperformed [4] Corporate Earnings and Developments - Micron (MU) is set to report quarterly results, providing insights into semiconductor demand trends [7] - Nvidia (NVDA) shares surged by 3.5% following a strategic partnership with OpenAI, with Nvidia investing up to $100 billion [8][9] - Pfizer (PFE) advanced 2.5% after acquiring Metsera (MTSR) for up to $7.3 billion, while Metsera shares skyrocketed by approximately 60% [13] - Apple (AAPL) and Tesla (TSLA) rose approximately 4% and 2% respectively, following price-target hikes from investment firms [13] - Oracle (ORCL) stock climbed nearly 5% after a leadership reshuffle, with CEO Safra Catz transitioning to an executive vice chair role [13] - AppLovin Corp. (APP) surged 4.5%, contributing to the tech sector's strong performance [13] - Western Digital (WDC) generated a robust 41% return over the last month, significantly outperforming other S&P 500 stocks [13] Upcoming Market Events - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech on September 24 is anticipated to provide guidance on monetary policy following the recent rate cut [5] - The release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index on September 26 will be crucial for assessing inflationary pressures [6] - The U.S. S&P Global Manufacturing and Services PMI Flash for September will be released on September 23, offering insights into the health of the manufacturing and services sectors [6]