U.S. equity markets opened higher on Thursday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed about 200 points, up 0.41% to 49,352.44. The technology-focused Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a 0.78% increase, reaching 23,655.17, while the broad-based S&P 500 gained 0.55%, closing in on 6,964.89 points. These moves came amid a mix of corporate earnings reports, sector performances, and economic indicators that collectively shaped investor sentiment.
The technology sector led the gains, registering a robust 1.4% increase, capturing investor attention with earnings and strategic developments that highlighted ongoing momentum in innovation and digital integration. Conversely, the healthcare sector experienced a retrenchment, pulling back by 1%, marking it as one of the lagging segments in the trading session.
A focal point of market optimism was The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS), which released its fourth-quarter earnings results surpassing expectations on the earnings per share metric. The company reported EPS of $14.01, outpacing analyst estimates of $11.65 per share. However, Goldman Sachs missed the consensus on revenue, posting $13.454 billion against estimates of $13.791 billion. This mixed earnings outcome was nevertheless received positively by the market, with investors placing greater emphasis on the profitability figure.
In the small-cap arena, some companies distinguished themselves with remarkable share price appreciations following announcements of strategic partnerships and corporate developments. Callan JMB Inc. (NASDAQ:CJMB) surged 244% to $3.8499 after formalizing a strategic teaming agreement with Biostax Corp, operating as Attune Biotech, to provide comprehensive federal oversight services. This move is viewed as potentially enhancing the firm's service offerings and market position.
Similarly, Springview Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:SPHL) soared 176% to $6.35. The company had revealed a partnership agreement with Jiangsu GSO New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., aiming to deploy solar and green-energy solutions within Singapore's residential sector, underscoring the growing focus on sustainable energy initiatives.
authID Inc. (NASDAQ:AUID) shares climbed 91% to $1.89 after the company announced an integration with ServiceNow, indicating a significant collaborative effort likely to improve offerings and customer reach.
Conversely, several stocks experienced notable declines amid adverse developments or capital activity. MetaVia Inc. (NASDAQ:MTVA) shares dropped 44% to $3.15 following an $8.1 million underwritten public offering, which may have diluted existing shares. Inspire Veterinary Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:IVP) declined 38% to $0.0510 after a dramatic 256% run-up the previous day, which coincided with the filing of a Certificate of Amendment to increase authorized Class A common stock from 100 million to 700 million shares, potentially raising concerns about dilution risks.
TryHard Holdings Limited (NASDAQ:THH) fell 35% to $20.54 upon announcing a Memorandum of Cooperation with STAR PARTY HK LIMITED to explore the formation of a joint venture in Japan. While the initiative may represent growth potential, market participants appeared cautious, reflecting in share price depreciation.
On the commodities front, prices retreated broadly. Oil futures declined 4.6% to $59.15 per barrel, while gold prices slipped 0.5%, settling at $4,611.40. Silver and copper also yielded losses, down 2.3% to $89.285 and 2% to $5.9385, respectively, signaling possible concerns about demand growth and inflation expectations.
Internationally, European equities presented a mixed picture, with the STOXX 600 advancing 0.4%, supported by modest gains in London's FTSE 100 (0.4%) and Germany's DAX (0.2%). Meanwhile, the Spanish IBEX 35 and France's CAC 40 decreased slightly by 0.3% and 0.1%. In the Asia-Pacific region, markets closed lower: Japan's Nikkei retreated 0.42%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng decreased by 0.28%, and China's Shanghai Composite dipped 0.33% amid a cautious backdrop.
Recent U.S. economic data supplied further depth to the day's market dynamics. Import prices rose marginally by 0.1% year-over-year in November, while export prices showed a stronger increase of 3.3% year-over-year, indicating divergent inflationary pressures between domestic and international trade channels.
Labour market indicators were positive, with initial jobless claims declining by 9,000 to 198,000 in the week ending January 10, performing better than the estimated 215,000, suggesting a resilient employment environment.
Manufacturing activity showed signs of acceleration: the New York Empire State Manufacturing Index jumped to 7.7 in January from a revised -3.7 in December, surpassing expectations of a 1 reading. Similarly, the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index rose sharply by 21.4 points to 12.6 in January, highlighting expanding conditions in key industrial regions.