U.S. stocks moved higher in last week’s holiday-shortened trading, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 1.97%, the S&P 500 rising 1.76%, and the Nasdaq Composite advancing 2.12%. The Russell 2000 declined 0.46%, though small caps had participated strongly in the broader second quarter rally.

Markets ended the week with two familiar themes back in focus: the durability of the AI investment boom and the path of interest rates. Geopolitics took more of a backseat as oil prices fell back toward levels seen before the Iran War, which should be a constructive development for consumers and inflation.

U.S. equities finished higher last week, supported by a geopolitical reprieve, continued enthusiasm around artificial intelligence infrastructure, and another sharp rally in semiconductors.

U.S. equities posted a modest weekly gain as investors navigated a volatile stretch of Iran-driven headlines before finishing the week on a notably optimistic note.

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