US stock market today: Wall Street advances as Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq gain on Nvidia, Oracle strength

Market Overview - The S&P 500 rose 0.4% in early trading, indicating cautious optimism among investors as the year-end approaches, with the index adding about 107 points and the Nasdaq climbing roughly 0.6% [1][12] - Trading volumes were lighter than usual due to the shortened Christmas week, but there was renewed buying interest in large-cap technology and AI-linked stocks [1][12] Technology Sector Performance - AI-focused stocks provided significant momentum, with Nvidia shares rising over 1% following reports of planned shipments of H200 processors to China by mid-February, pending regulatory approvals, which boosted optimism around Nvidia's international revenue pipeline [3][12] - Micron Technology gained close to 3% as investors anticipated strong demand for high-bandwidth memory related to AI workloads [4][12] - Other major technology names also saw gains, with one company adding over 1% after re-entering investor focus due to strategic deal headlines and positive analyst commentary [4][12] Market Sentiment and Trends - Despite the recent rebound, investors are divided on the sustainability of AI stocks' leadership, with some rotating towards cheaper sectors after months of tech outperformance [12] - Concerns about the Santa Claus rally persist, as the S&P 500 struggles to hold key technical levels, leading to a market tone described as more churn than rally [9][12] - Analysts expect muted moves and selective positioning in the market due to fewer trading sessions and thinner liquidity ahead of the holidays [11][12] Corporate News - Janus Henderson agreed to be acquired by Trian Fund Management and General Catalyst in a $7.4 billion cash deal, highlighting ongoing consolidation in the financial services sector [10][12] - Warner Bros. Discovery shares increased following confirmation of financing tied to Larry Ellison, contributing to momentum in media stocks [10][12] - Crypto-linked equities advanced as Bitcoin rebounded toward $90,000, positively impacting companies like Strategy and Mara Holdings [11][12]