S&P500 and Nasdaq: US Indices Jump at the Open on Nvidia Strength and Walmart Beat

Dow Jumps as Nvidia Recharges AI Sentiment

Stocks pushed sharply higher on Thursday after Nvidia’s latest earnings restored confidence in the AI trade that has been central to this year’s equity strength.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 579 points, or 1.2%, while the S&P 500 advanced 1.6%. The Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a 2.2% surge, reversing part of its recent pullback.

Nvidia led the move after posting earnings and guidance that exceeded Wall Street expectations, offering investors fresh reassurance following several weeks of selling across major indexes.

What Powered Nvidia’s Strong Market Impact?

Nvidia shares climbed 4% after the company topped consensus forecasts on both earnings and revenue. The chipmaker also projected stronger fourth-quarter sales, with CEO Jensen Huang citing exceptionally strong demand for its Blackwell chips and pushing back against concerns of an AI bubble.

Analysts noted that margins remained firm and that China-related worries had not dented the company’s broader momentum. This helped lift sentiment across the AI ecosystem, boosting chipmakers such as AMD and Broadcom as well as power-infrastructure plays including Eaton.

How Did Broader Market Conditions Influence Thursday’s Rally?

Stocks also benefited from a U.S. jobs report showing the economy added 119,000 positions in September, slightly above expectations. Though the data was delayed by the government shutdown and viewed as stale, it provided a mild sentiment tailwind during a session already dominated by AI-driven enthusiasm.

The rebound came after a soft month for equities, with the S&P 500 down roughly 3% and the Nasdaq lower by nearly 5% through Wednesday. Nvidia itself had dropped 7% for November before Thursday’s surge.

Which Corporate Earnings Drove Sector-Specific Moves?

Walmart posted better-than-expected third-quarter results, earning an adjusted 62 cents per share on $179.5 billion in revenue. The retailer also raised its full-year sales outlook, helping its stock edge higher.

Palo Alto Networks slipped 3% after announcing a $3.35 billion acquisition of Chronosphere, overshadowing strong quarterly results. Beauty and wellness company Oddity rallied 17% on earnings of 40 cents per share and revenue of $148 million, both above estimates.

Jacobs Solutions reported fourth-quarter earnings of $1.75 per share, topping expectations, while shares reacted little.

Bath & Body Works plunged more than 14% after earnings and revenue fell short of analyst forecasts.

What Should Traders Focus on Next?

The strong response to Nvidia’s results suggests AI remains a primary driver of equity sentiment, even after recent weakness. With major indexes still recovering from monthly losses, traders will watch upcoming economic releases and additional corporate earnings to gauge whether Thursday’s rally can extend.

Near-term tone leans constructive, supported by earnings strength and renewed interest in AI-linked sectors.

More Information in our Economic Calendar.