NEW YORK — Updated 10:30 a.m. ET, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. U.S. stocks were mixed but firmly technology-led by midmorning, with the Nasdaq extending its gains after Nvidia’s blockbuster earnings while the Dow slipped slightly into negative territory.
At the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 149.8 points, or 0.28%, to 53,613.66. The S&P 500 gained 34.6 points, or 0.45%, to 7,710.34, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 226.8 points, or 0.87%, to 26,356.98.
By roughly 10:30 a.m. ET, the picture had shifted. The Dow was down about 28 points, or 0.05%, near 53,436, while the S&P 500 was up about 31 points, or 0.41%, near 7,707, and the Nasdaq Composite was up roughly 296 points, or 1.13%, near 26,427.
The divergence reflects exactly where investors are putting money today: AI and technology.
Nvidia was up around 6%, helping pull the Nasdaq sharply higher after the company reported another enormous quarter and issued a strong outlook. Salesforce also surged after strong earnings and an upgraded forecast, while CrowdStrike advanced on better-than-expected results and improved guidance.
Nvidia reported $96.2 billion in quarterly revenue, including roughly $89 billion from its data-center business, and projected about $108 billion in revenue for the current quarter. The company also expects revenue growth of roughly 70% next fiscal year, reinforcing the view that AI infrastructure spending remains exceptionally strong.
That message is lifting not only Nvidia but the wider group of companies tied to data centers, chips, networking and cloud infrastructure.
The morning economic reports were also relatively supportive.
Initial unemployment claims fell by 4,000 to 203,000 for the week ended Aug. 22, while continuing claims declined by 18,000 to 1.778 million. Layoffs therefore remain low despite signs that hiring has slowed.
At the same time, the U.S. goods trade deficit widened sharply to $118.8 billion in July, from $101.4 billion in June. Exports fell 2.9%, while imports increased 3.7%.
One notable detail was an 11.3% surge in capital-goods imports, which may partly reflect the huge amount of machinery and equipment being brought into the country for AI data centers and other infrastructure projects.
That creates an unusual interpretation: a larger trade deficit is normally viewed negatively, but part of today’s increase may actually reflect businesses spending aggressively on productive equipment.
Retail earnings showed the consumer remains highly selective.
Dollar General rose about 5% after stronger results and an improved outlook, while Dollar Tree moved lower after disappointing guidance. Best Buy fell sharply despite beating expectations, as investors focused on weaker underlying electronics demand and persistent pressure from inflation.
Treasury yields were relatively steady, with the 10-year yield around 4.67%. That stability is important because the Nasdaq’s rally becomes much harder to sustain if long-term rates begin climbing again.
Oil was also back in focus. U.S. crude was near $82.79 a barrel, while Brent was around $87.78, both up roughly 1% as markets continued to monitor Iran, Oman and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
For the rest of Thursday, Wall Street will be watching three things closely.
First is whether Nvidia’s gain continues pulling the broader semiconductor and AI complex higher.
Second is Treasury yields. If the 10-year remains around 4.65% to 4.70%, technology shares have room to hold their gains. A sharp move above that range would likely pressure the Nasdaq quickly.
Third is Jackson Hole. Investors are preparing for Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s speech Friday, which could reset expectations for whether the Federal Reserve raises rates again this year.
After the closing bell, Marvell Technology, Workday, Autodesk, Affirm and Ulta Beauty are among the major companies scheduled to report, with Marvell particularly important because of its exposure to AI networking and data-center infrastructure.
For now, the market is sending a very clear message: Nvidia has reignited the AI trade, but the rally is concentrated. The Nasdaq is surging while the Dow has already given up its opening gain.
JBizNews Desk | Wall Street
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