The Economic Times·2026-01-15 15:13Market Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose to 49,267.93, adding 118.30 points, or 0.24% [1] - The S&P 500 climbed 0.55% to 6,964.54, while the NASDAQ gained 0.84% to end at 23,670.02 [1][5] Semiconductor Sector - The rally was led by semiconductor stocks after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported a 35% jump in profit, its strongest growth in years [2][6] - Shares of TSMC surged over 5%, setting a positive tone for the chip sector, which saw broad strength [9][19] - The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) climbed nearly 3%, reflecting the sector's momentum [9] Financial Sector - Financial stocks contributed significantly to the market's advance, with Morgan Stanley shares jumping over 3% after exceeding earnings expectations [14] - Goldman Sachs climbed around 2% after posting better-than-expected profits, highlighting improved performance in fixed-income trading [15] - BlackRock's shares surged 4% after reporting assets under management exceeding $14 trillion for the first time, with earnings of $13.16 per share [16] Economic Indicators - Weekly jobless claims were reported at 198,000, significantly lower than the anticipated 215,000, indicating a resilient labor market [8][23] - The Empire State Manufacturing Index jumped to 7.7 in January, far above forecasts, signaling improving conditions in key industrial regions [24] Oil Prices and Inflation - Falling oil prices, with Brent crude dropping over 4%, eased concerns about inflation and supported consumer spending [21][22] - The decline in oil prices was welcomed by equity investors, particularly in sectors sensitive to fuel costs [22] Geopolitical and Trade Concerns - Despite the positive market performance, ongoing trade tensions with China and uncertainty around semiconductor exports remain concerns for investors [26] - A recent proclamation imposing a 25% tariff on certain semiconductors was clarified to exclude chips critical to domestic manufacturing, easing fears of disruption [11][12]