On Thursday, January 18th, U.S. stock markets closed higher, driven by a robust rally in technology-related stocks, benefiting the Nasdaq.
In economic data, U.S. initial jobless claims dropped to 187,000, surpassing expectations of 207,000. Housing starts declined by 4.3% to 1.46 million, but building permits rose 1.9% to 1.495 million in December.
Most sectors in the S&P 500 finished with gains, particularly information technology and communication services; utilities and real estate sectors fell, deviating from the broader market’s upward trajectory.
Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM) jumped almost 10%, following its forecast of over 20% revenue growth in 2024, driven by robust demand for advanced chips in artificial intelligence applications.
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