US markets today: Wall Street ticks up as AI shares stabilise; investors assess global cues
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US markets today: Wall Street ticks up as AI shares stabilise; investors assess global cues

Wall Street opened higher on Friday as gains in artificial intelligence-linked stocks helped lift investor sentiment, even as markets digested a widely expected interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan.In early trade, the S&P 500 rose 0.5%, extending gains from the previous session though the index remained lower for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 256 points, or 0.5%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.7%, led by advances in technology shares. Nvidia and other AI-related stocks moved higher after recent volatility, AP reported.Winnebago Industries surged 14% after posting quarterly profit and revenue that comfortably exceeded analystsโ€™ expectations. In contrast, Nike shares slid more than 10%, with investors focused on the impact of tariffs despite what was otherwise a strong earnings performance. Deckers Outdoors, the owner of Ugg and Hoka brands, fell over 3% amid similar concerns over trade pressures.Oracle gained 4% after announcing that it, along with Silver Lake and MGX, had signed agreements to form a new US joint venture for TikTok. Each investor will hold a 15% stake, enabling the platform to continue operating in the US.Markets in Asia advanced after the Bank of Japan raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 0.75%, its highest level since 1995. The move was widely anticipated. Japanโ€™s Nikkei 225 rose 1%, while the countryโ€™s 10-year government bond yield crossed 2% for the first time since 2006.โ€œThe Bank of Japanโ€™s decision to raise interest rates at its meeting today was clearly signaled ahead of time and therefore came as no surprise,โ€ Abhijit Surya of Capital Economics said.Asian stocks were further supported by optimism over potential US Federal Reserve rate cuts following softer-than-expected US inflation data. European markets were largely flat in midday trade.In commodities, US crude oil rose to $56.31 a barrel, while Brent crude edged up to $60.12. Bitcoin climbed nearly 4% to just under $88,000.

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