Stock Market Newsยท2025-10-02 16:07Market Overview - The U.S. stock market is experiencing a significant rally, with major indices reaching record highs driven by enthusiasm for AI innovation and expectations of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [1][2][8] - The S&P 500 reached an intraday high of 6,726.55, the Nasdaq Composite advanced to 22,831.05, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose to 46,547.37, all marking new records [2] Economic Context - The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has delayed key economic data releases, including unemployment benefits and the monthly jobs report, but the market remains resilient, anticipating limited economic impact [4][5] - There is a 99% likelihood of a Federal Reserve rate cut later this month, which is bolstering market confidence [5] Sector Performance - Technology and AI-related stocks are leading the market surge, with Nvidia's stock trading near $187 and achieving a market valuation of $4.5 trillion, driven by strong AI growth [6] - Tesla's shares rose nearly 2% to $468.52 after reporting a 7.4% increase in global vehicle deliveries, although the stock later retreated by about 3% [6] Corporate Developments - Nvidia's strong performance is supported by partnerships with South Korean chipmakers for AI infrastructure, while Meta Platforms' acquisition of AI chip startup Rivos may pose competitive pressure [6] - Apple received a price target increase to $298 from Morgan Stanley, driven by a successful iPhone 17 launch and anticipation for future models [10] - Microsoft continues to thrive with its cloud services and AI initiatives, maintaining a strong buy recommendation despite market pricing [10] - Alphabet's stock price target was raised to $270, reflecting its position as an "AI Winner" amid growing adoption of generative AI [10] - Amazon's AWS remains a leader in cloud computing, although competition is intensifying from Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud [10]