Markets kicked off the new week on a constructive note, with all three major indexes finishing in the green as investors returned from the weekend in a buying mood. The catalyst was straightforward: Friday's University of Michigan consumer sentiment data, revised slightly higher over the weekend in analyst discussions, reinforced the view that the Federal Reserve has room to hold rates steady — and potentially cut later this year without reigniting inflation.
Technology led the charge, with the Nasdaq outperforming its peers. Nvidia was the standout story of the session, rallying over 3% on news of a large institutional accumulation. The broader chip sector followed suit, with AMD and Broadcom both adding over 1.5% as traders rotated back into AI-adjacent names after last week's mild pullback.
Energy was the quiet laggard of the day even as oil held near $78. CVS Health was the session's most notable decliner among large-caps, shedding nearly 4% after a guidance cut that caught analysts off guard. Healthcare broadly underperformed, dragging the defensive sector into the red.
Volatility, as measured by the VIX, eased to 17.4, suggesting traders are not bracing for immediate turbulence. Gold held firm above $2,400, continuing its role as a quiet store of value in a market that is cautiously optimistic but not complacent.