Wall Street ticks to more records, led by technology stocks

Market Performance - U.S. stocks reached new records, with the S&P 500 up 0.1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 79 points (0.2%), and Nasdaq composite climbing 0.4% [1] - The market has largely ignored the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, which has historically had minimal impact on the economy and stock market [4] Employment Data Impact - The shutdown has delayed the weekly report on U.S. unemployment benefits and the monthly jobs report, increasing uncertainty in the market [2][3] - Investors are concerned about the Federal Reserve's data dependency and the implications of missing employment data on interest rate decisions [3] Sector Highlights - Stocks in the chip and AI industries surged following OpenAI's announcement of partnerships for a $500 billion AI infrastructure project, with notable gains for Samsung Electronics (3.5%), SK Hynix (9.9%), Advanced Micro Devices (3.5%), Broadcom (1.4%), and Nvidia (0.9%) [5] - The excitement surrounding AI and significant investments in the sector have contributed to the stock market's record highs, although concerns about a potential bubble are emerging [6] Corporate Developments - Occidental Petroleum's stock fell 7.3% after announcing the sale of its chemical business, OxyChem, to Berkshire Hathaway for $9.7 billion [7]