Finance

Major stock indexes advanced broadly following the softer labor data, with the technology sector fueling much of the upward momentum. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.2% to achieve a fresh intraday record high and logged its third consecutive positive week. In contrast, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted daily gains but finished the overall week lower.

Semiconductor equities recorded substantial gains, sparked by ongoing strong momentum across artificial intelligence hardware and data center infrastructure. Broadcom shares jumped over 3% following reports that a syndicate began gathering $60 billion in AI chip financing for Anthropic and other tech firms. Additionally, Micron Technology contributed to the sector's positive sentiment after posting massive fiscal fourth-quarter earnings growth driven by robust AI demand.

Crude oil futures ended the week notably lower after the Group of Seven and European nations reached a coordinated agreement to release 100 million barrels of crude and diesel from emergency reserves. West Texas Intermediate futures felt pressure from the supply decision, settling down around 1.5% at $91.45 per barrel. Concurrently, gold futures continued an easing trend, slipping to roughly $4,170 an ounce as cooling rate-hike expectations repositioned safe-haven trades.