U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday, with gains in major technology companies helping the S&P 500 finish the week in positive territory.
The S&P 500 climbed 0.42% to close at 7,575.39, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.29% to 26,281.61. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 149.60 points, or 0.29%, ending the session at 52,637.01.
Technology stocks were the primary drivers of the market. Nvidia gained around 4%, providing significant support to the S&P 500. Meta Platforms surged approximately 6%, capping a nearly 15% weekly gain—its strongest weekly performance since early 2024. The rally followed Bank of America's reaffirmation of its buy rating and reports suggesting Meta is improving the cost efficiency of its artificial intelligence investments.
For the week, the S&P 500 gained more than 1%, while the Nasdaq Composite also rose by over 1%. In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the week 0.5% lower.
In the semiconductor sector, South Korean memory chipmaker SK Hynix made its U.S. market debut on the Nasdaq. The stock opened at $170, after pricing its American depositary receipts at $149, and climbed roughly 13% during its first trading session. Some investors expressed concerns that the new listing could draw capital away from U.S. memory chip companies such as Micron Technology.
Asian markets delivered mixed performances. South Korea's Kospi rose 2.5%, while Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 1.2%. Meanwhile, China's CSI 300 declined 1.96%, weighed down by losses in the technology and industrial sectors. In Europe, the Stoxx 600 finished little changed.
Despite recent volatility, semiconductor stocks continue to outperform in 2026. Micron Technology has surged more than 200% this year, while Lam Research, Marvell Technology, and Intel have each more than doubled in value year to date.
Friday's gains followed Thursday's rally, which was fueled by easing oil prices after President Donald Trump stated that Iran had reached out to negotiate. Reports also indicated that Qatar and Pakistan are working to facilitate renewed discussions between Washington and Tehran.
According to administration officials, the U.S. and Iran are expected to continue technical-level negotiations despite recent military exchanges, reflecting ongoing efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East. These developments came shortly after President Trump had stated earlier in the week that the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran had come to an end.
