Markets· August 17, 2026 at 02:06 p.m.
Mixed Stock Performance Amid Strength in Chipmakers and AI Companies
Key takeaways
- S&P 500 is up by 0.17%
- Dow Jones Industrial Average is up by 0.20%
- Nasdaq 100 is up by 0.13%
- Anthropic reported a 14-fold increase in Q2 revenue
The S&P 500 Index is up by 0.17%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up by 0.20%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index is up by 0.13%. The strength in technology stocks, particularly chipmakers and AI companies, is lifting the broader market today. However, weakness in software stocks is weighing on the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Stellar revenue growth at Anthropic PBC has bolstered the view that spending on artificial intelligence will be sustained. Anthropic reported a 14-fold increase in Q2 revenue compared to the same period last year. However, software stocks are facing challenges, with China's July industrial production and retail sales data showing signs of weakness.
In the energy sector, crude oil prices are moving higher due to fresh Israeli attacks on Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. The outlook for strong Q2 earnings is a bullish factor for stocks, with the S&P 500 tracking for earnings growth of almost 32% in Q2.
In the bond market, European government bond yields are moving higher today, and markets are discounting a 92% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at its next policy meeting on September 10.
