US stock market jumps nearly 1% as Dow Jones surges 400+ points; S&P 500, Nasdaq climb on energy, AI, and defense stock rally

Market Overview - The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed more than 400 points, nearing 48,858, up nearly 1% on the day, while the S&P 500 rose roughly 0.5% to around 6,890, and the Nasdaq gained about 0.4%, staying above 23,300, indicating broad-based confidence across equity markets despite geopolitical tensions [1][8]. Energy Sector - Chevron, the only major U.S. oil company with operations in Venezuela, saw its stock rise by 5% at the open, while ExxonMobil gained 1.5% and ConocoPhillips rose nearly 2%. Smaller energy players outperformed, with Kosmos Energy jumping 10% after reporting successful drilling results [2][18]. - U.S. benchmark WTI crude rose to around $58 per barrel, while Brent crude traded near $61, both up close to 1% on the day, reflecting geopolitical risk premiums rather than immediate supply concerns [17][30]. Technology Sector - The technology sector remained strong, driven by renewed optimism for Artificial Intelligence (AI) demand, with positive reports from key Nvidia suppliers like Foxconn and TSMC acting as catalysts. Foxconn reported record fourth-quarter revenue due to massive demand for AI servers [3][4][25]. - TSMC shares surged after Goldman Sachs raised its price target, and Nvidia is expected to deliver a keynote address at the CES tech show, which could further influence AI trade sentiment [6][25]. Defense Sector - The capture of Nicolás Maduro led to a rise in global defense stocks, with Palantir leading U.S. defense gains with a 3.5% increase. Major contractors like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics also traded higher, reflecting expectations of increased military spending [7][27]. - European defense stocks saw even stronger gains, with BAE Systems rising 5% and Germany's Rheinmetall jumping over 7% [7][28]. Market Sentiment - Despite geopolitical risks, investors are focused on earnings growth, stable energy prices, and long-term technological transformation, as indicated by the strong start to the year for U.S. equities [16][28]. - The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield slipped toward 4.17%, easing financial conditions and making equities more attractive, which helped stabilize technology stocks [9][30].