Stock market today: S&P 500, Nasdaq jump to kick off November as Amazon, Nvidia lead way

Group 1: Market Performance - US stocks experienced gains on the first trading day of November, with the S&P 500 rising approximately 0.5% and the Nasdaq Composite increasing by about 1% [1] - Big Tech companies, including Amazon and Nvidia, were significant contributors to the market's upward momentum [1][2] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average remained relatively flat, reflecting its lower exposure to tech stocks [1] Group 2: Corporate Developments - Amazon's shares surged nearly 6% following a $38 billion deal with OpenAI, indicating strong investor interest in AI-linked companies [2] - Nvidia's stock rose over 2% after an analyst upgrade, showcasing positive sentiment in the tech sector [2] - Berkshire Hathaway reported a 17% increase in profits for the third quarter, attributed to a mild hurricane season and gains in paper investments, leading to a more than 1% rise in its stock during premarket trading [3] Group 3: Mergers and Acquisitions - Kimberly-Clark announced its acquisition of Kenvue for $32 billion, resulting in a 20% surge in Kenvue's stock, while Kimberly-Clark's shares fell by 15% following the announcement [4] Group 4: Economic Indicators - The ongoing US government shutdown is delaying the release of key economic data, including the jobs report, which could impact market sentiment [5] - Upcoming releases from the manufacturing and services sectors are expected to carry more significance due to the lack of government data [6]