US stocks open in the green: S&P 500 climbs 0.3%, Nasdaq up 0.5%

Market Performance - US stocks rose on Friday, with the S&P 500 climbing 0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average adding about 100 points (0.2%), and the Nasdaq Composite gaining 0.5% [1] - Weekly performance across major benchmarks was mixed, with the S&P 500 hovering just below breakeven, the Nasdaq Composite on track for a modest 0.2% decline, and the Dow heading for a weekly gain of about 0.1% [3] Sector Performance - Technology stocks led the session, with Nvidia rising more than 1% and Tesla also trading more than 1% higher, contributing to the Nasdaq's advance [2] - On the Dow, IBM and Honeywell were industrial heavyweights leading gains, rising 1.9% and 1.6%, respectively [2] Semiconductor Sector - The semiconductor sector saw a rally following strong earnings from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, which reinforced confidence in sustained demand for advanced chips tied to artificial intelligence [4] - A trade agreement between the US and Taiwan, where Taiwanese companies committed to invest at least $250 billion in production capacity in the US, was viewed positively for strengthening domestic supply chains and supporting long-term growth in the semiconductor sector [5] Investor Sentiment - Despite geopolitical tensions and concerns over the Federal Reserve's independence, markets remained resilient, supported by solid corporate earnings and enthusiasm around artificial intelligence and technology investment [9] - Analysts at Morgan Stanley noted that corporate earnings strength could propel further gains in equities, with expectations reflecting significant productivity gains and operating margin expansion [10] Future Outlook - Morgan Stanley cautioned that the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence may proceed more slowly than expected, and the Federal Reserve's focus may shift from cutting interest rates to accommodating balance sheet growth [12]