US stock market today: Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq rally as Nvidia’s xAI deal lifts AI stocks; here’s top stocks to watch amid Fed minutes and Powell speech

The Dow Jones rose 3% while the S&P 500 climbed 0.5%, and the Nasdaq led with a 0.7% increase. Small caps on the Russell 2000 also advanced by 0.6%. These gains followed a mixed but generally positive trading session amid continued economic uncertainty due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. Housing data released showed weakness, with mortgage applications dropping again, reflecting tighter mortgage rates and hesitancy among homebuyers.Nvidia is reportedly investing $2 billion into a $20 billion equit ...