S&P 500, Nasdaq End Higher On Amazon-OpenAI Deal; Fed Path Forward Grows Murky

U.S. stocks closed mixed on Monday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rising as optimism over an Amazon-OpenAI partnership fueled gains in technology shares. The Nasdaq led the advance, lifted by strong performances from major AI-related firms, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped, weighed down by declines in healthcare giants UnitedHealth Group and Merck. The market’s focus on artificial intelligence deals underscored investor enthusiasm for the sector despite broader economic uncertainty. Analysts said the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook has become increasingly unclear amid a lack of fresh U.S. economic data, leaving investors guessing about the central bank’s next move on interest rates. While tech optimism continues to drive momentum, concerns about inflation, earnings sustainability, and slowing growth are tempering broader market confidence heading into the final months of the year. #SP500 #Nasdaq #Amazon #OpenAI #StockMarket #FederalReserve #TechStocks #AIMarket #WallStreet #EconomicOutlook