US stocks kicked off the week with a broad rally, with big technology names leading the charge and the fear gauge sliding. In Monday trading, the tech-heavy Nasdaq jumped around 2.3%, the S&P 500 rose roughly 1.6%, and even the small-cap Russell 2000 climbed about 1.7%. With advancers comfortably outnumbering decliners, it was a clear risk-on day.
Big tech does the heavy lifting
The rally was powered by the megacaps. Oracle (ORCL) was the standout, surging around 9% to lead the entire market. Meta Platforms (META) jumped about 6%, Microsoft (MSFT) rose roughly 5%, and Alphabet (GOOGL) and Amazon (AMZN) added around 5% and 4.6%. Tesla (TSLA) tacked on nearly 4%.
The one notable holdout was Apple (AAPL), which slipped about 1.3% even as the rest of Big Tech ripped higher. It was a rare day where Apple broke from the pack.
Beyond tech: Boeing and Robinhood shine
The strength was not limited to software and chips. Boeing (BA) climbed nearly 8%, one of the biggest gainers on the Dow, and Robinhood (HOOD) rose more than 5% as traders leaned back into risk. The VIX volatility index fell around 1.4% to under 16, a sign that investors were in a decidedly risk-on mood.
Curious whether the megacap leaders are still reasonably valued after a run like this? Our Microsoft stock analysis breaks down the fundamentals and where the numbers stand.
The laggards: energy, pharma and autos
Not everything joined the party. Defensive and value corners lagged. Eli Lilly (LLY) fell around 2.4% and Merck (MRK) dropped about 1.8%, weighing on healthcare. Energy was soft, with Chevron (CVX) and ConocoPhillips (COP) each down between 1.5% and 2%. Automakers Ford (F) and General Motors (GM) also slipped about 1%.
The pattern was a textbook risk-on rotation: money flowing into growth and tech, and out of defensive and commodity-linked names.
The Verdict
Monday was a strong, broad-based start to the week, led by the biggest names in tech and underscored by a falling volatility index. The advance was wide, but leadership was concentrated in growth, with energy, pharma and Apple standing out as the exceptions. As always with a sharp one-day move, the real question is follow-through into the rest of the week. For now, the bulls have the upper hand. You can track the full list of movers and screen for your own setups with our stock screener.
Figures are based on Monday's intraday trading and may change by the closing bell. This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Always do your own research before investing. Previous market recap: Canadian Market Recap: Yields, Telecom and Miners
