U.S. equities finished Friday with a split performance. The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up 0.08%, lifted by healthcare and basic materials, while the S&P 500 fell 0.29% and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.40% under pressure from technology losses.
UnitedHealth Group surged 12.03% to $304.16, leading Dow gainers, followed by Salesforce (+3.89%) and Amgen (+2.15%). Cisco Systems dropped 4.46%, while 3M and Caterpillar slid 2.72% and 2.33%, respectively.
On the S&P 500, UnitedHealth, First Solar (+11.05%), and Enphase Energy (+8.13%) topped the leaderboard. Applied Materials plunged 14.07%, KLA fell 8.45%, and Lam Research declined 7.35%.
Nasdaq’s Big Swings
The Nasdaq Composite saw sharp moves in smaller-cap names.
- Top Gainers: ReShape Lifesciences (+257.14%), IO Biotech (+67.97%), Precigen (+58.92%).
- Top Losers: Cuprina Holdings (-87.34%), FlyE Group (-86.86%), Magnitude International (-64.34%).
Market breadth favored decliners, with the NYSE posting 1,642 losers against 1,104 gainers, and the Nasdaq showing 1,957 to 1,359.
Commodities and Currencies
The CBOE Volatility Index rose 1.69% to 15.08. In commodities, December gold futures dipped 0.03% to $3,382.12/oz. September crude oil fell 1.27% to $63.15 a barrel, and October Brent eased 1.00% to $66.17.
In forex trading:
- EUR/USD gained 0.45% to 1.17
- USD/JPY dropped 0.39% to 147.26
- U.S. Dollar Index Futures fell 0.39% to 97.72
Investors now turn to upcoming economic data and earnings releases for direction, with sector rotation and rate expectations likely to remain key market drivers.