Wall Street stocks moved higher on Tuesday, pushing major indices closer to record levels, as gains in technology shares and select healthcare stocks supported the market. Investors also remained focused on a busy week of US economic data that could shape expectations around future interest rate moves.As per news agency AP, the S&P 500 rose 0.2% by late morning trading and was sitting just below the record it set in late December. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 195 points, or 0.4%, a day after closing at an all-time high. The Nasdaq Composite added 0.1%.Technology stocks made some of the most noticeable moves. Amazon jumped 2.1%, helping to offset a 1.6% decline in Apple shares, according to AP. Micron Technology gained 6%, while Nvidia, often seen as a key driver of broader market direction, gave up early gains and was mostly flat.Strong interest in artificial intelligence-linked companies remained a major theme. Sandisk surged more than 23%, marking the biggest gain on the market. Its shares have risen sharply since the company was spun off from Western Digital last February, driven by demand for data storage hardware linked to AI growth. Western Digital also advanced sharply.Reuters said the rally was led by healthcare and technology stocks, with at least seven of the S&P 500’s main sectors trading in positive territory. Healthcare shares rose around 1.7%, helped by Moderna, which climbed 7% after Bank of America Global Research raised its price target on the stock. Chipmakers also lifted tech stocks, with Nvidia gaining nearly 2% in early Reuters-tracked trade, while Micron and Sandisk added more than 6% and 20% respectively.Markets appeared to brush aside concerns about wider geopolitical fallout after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend. Oil prices eased slightly after strong gains a day earlier, with benchmark US crude slipping 0.2%, as per AP. Shares of oil majors Exxon Mobil and Chevron fell after Monday’s rally.In the bond market, Treasury yields edged higher. AP reported that the yield on the 10-year US Treasury rose to 4.19%, while the two-year yield climbed to 3.48%. Gold prices rose 0.8% and silver jumped more than 4%, assets that are often seen as safe havens during periods of uncertainty.Investors are now turning their attention to key US economic updates. According to AP, data on job openings, weekly unemployment claims and the monthly jobs report are due later this week. Reports on the services sector and consumer sentiment are also expected and are closely watched as indicators of economic health.The data will be important after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signalled caution on further rate cuts. Wall Street currently expects the Fed to keep interest rates unchanged at its meeting later this month.
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