Nasdaq 100: Tech Stocks Weigh Heavy Today as Nvidia Slips on China AI News

Wall Street Opens Mixed as Traders Brace for Heavy Earnings and Key Data

U.S. stocks were mixed early Monday, with the S&P 500 and Dow inching higher while the Nasdaq fell under pressure from weakness in major tech names. Investors were positioning carefully 90 minutes after the opening bell, facing a packed week of earnings from 180 S&P 500 companies and critical economic data, including payrolls and inflation figures.

How Are Major Indexes Moving After the Open?

The S&P 500 and Dow traded slightly positive, supported by strength in industrial and healthcare stocks. The Nasdaq slipped as big tech names struggled to find footing. Advancing issues outpaced decliners by a 2.24-to-1 margin on the NYSE and by 1.68-to-1 on the Nasdaq, indicating underlying buying interest despite early weakness in growth sectors. The small-cap Russell 2000 continued last week’s rebound, following its best weekly gain since November.

Which Sectors Are Leading and Lagging?

Technology was the session’s biggest drag, down 1.03%, as investors took profits ahead of mega-cap earnings. Consumer Discretionary and Communication Services also dipped, falling 0.38% and 0.29% respectively. Defensive sectors outperformed, with Financials rising 0.47%, Health Care adding 0.42%, and Materials advancing 0.33%. Utilities and Industrials also posted modest gains, signaling a cautious rotation into more stable names.

What Corporate News Is Moving Markets?

Earnings expectations remained a major focus, with first-quarter S&P 500 profits now forecast to grow 9.7% year-over-year, according to LSEG IBES.

Traders were closely watching results from the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants like Apple and Meta Platforms, which are seen as resilient to tariff pressures.

Meanwhile, corporate headlines included Spirit AeroSystems rising 2.7% after Airbus agreed to acquire some of its manufacturing facilities, and Opera rallying 8.6% after raising its full-year revenue forecast.

Which Stocks Are Making the Biggest Moves?

Boeing helped lift the Dow after Bernstein upgraded the stock to Outperform, citing stronger cash flow expectations. In contrast, Nvidia fell 2% after reports that Huawei is preparing to test its own AI processor, potentially cutting into Nvidia’s China business. The early divergence between industrial and tech names was a key driver of index performance.

Market Outlook

Traders now turn their attention to upcoming macroeconomic reports, including Friday’s U.S. nonfarm payrolls and Thursday’s PCE inflation data. Both releases could shift expectations for Federal Reserve policy. While early earnings reports have been broadly positive, trade policy uncertainty between the U.S. and China continues to hover over sentiment, keeping markets sensitive to both corporate guidance and geopolitical headlines.

More Information in our Economic Calendar.