The S&P 500 index rose 1.7% last week to a new record close as stronger-than-expected quarterly results from retailer Walmart and chipmaker NVIDIA boosted investor sentiment. The index is now up 5% for the month to date and up 6.7% for the year to date.
The weekly advance was led by the consumer staples and technology sectors amid excitement over the quarterly results from Walmart and NVIDIA. For its fiscal Q4 ended Jan. 31, Walmart reported adjusted earnings and revenue above analysts’ expectations. The company also boosted its dividend and unveiled an agreement to acquire entertainment technology company Vizio Holding (VZIO) for $2.3 billion in cash.
NVIDIA’s shares, meanwhile, rallied on better-than-expected results for the company’s fiscal Q4 ended Jan. 28. Sales more than tripled from the year-earlier quarter amid strong demand for generative artificial intelligence, and the company issued upbeat guidance for its fiscal Q1 revenue.
NVIDIA’s report sent the chipmaker’s stock to a $2 trillion market capitalization for the first time ever and sparked a rally across technology stocks and others touched by artificial intelligence.
Every sector of the S&P 500 rose on a weekly basis, led by a 2.1% gain in consumer staples and a 2.0% rise in technology. Other strong gainers included materials, industrials and financials. The smallest increase was posted by energy, which edged up 0.4%.
Economic data scheduled for this week includes January new home sales on Monday, the first revision to Q4 gross domestic product on Wednesday and the January personal consumption expenditures index on Thursday.
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