US Markets
Stocks rise as tech leads and yields keep climbing
The market closes higher, but the bond move and mixed sector action keep the tone cautious.
U.S. stocks finish mixed beneath the surface but mostly green at the index level. The S&P 500 rises 0.7% to 7,773.9502, the Nasdaq climbs 1.1% to 27,477.3105, the Dow adds 0.2% to 51,267.8984, and the Russell 2000 gains 0.5% to 2,847.1357.
Tech is part of the day’s leadership, with the sector up 0.6%. Communication Services does better, rising 1.2%, while Materials leads the tape with a 1.3% gain. Real Estate is the lone sector in the red, down 0.3%.
Options flow leans defensive in the biggest index names. SPY posts a put-call ratio of 1.36, while QQQ posts 2.57, with puts outpacing calls in both funds. That lines up with a market that is still climbing, but not exactly relaxed.
Volatility edges higher too. The VIX rises 1.4% to 15.52, and the VIX 9-day jumps 6.6% to 12.85. The S&P 500’s intraday path shows a steady climb from the open, a push to new highs late in the session, then a modest pullback into the close.