Wall Street finishes higher amid Strait of Hormuz tensions and Nvidia buzz

<p>Wall Street closed higher Monday, with all major indexes posting gains as investors balanced geopolitical jitters with optimism from tech earnings. The Dow Jones rose 388 points, or 0.8%, to 46,946, while the S&amp;P 500 added 67 points, up 1% at 6,699. The Nasdaq led the charge, climbing 269 points, or 1.2%, to 22,374, and the Russell 2000 gained 23 points, or 0.9%, to 2,503.</p>
<p>Markets are keeping a close eye on the Strait of Hormuz, now in the third week of regional unrest. Over the weekend, several tankers managed to transit the key waterway, offering a glimmer of hope that crude supply could stabilize. President Trump has also urged allies to join the U.S. in breaking Iran's blockade, warning NATO faces a “very bad future” if it doesn’t step up.</p>
<p>Investors are weighing the implications of rising oil prices on inflation, especially as Federal Reserve officials begin their two-day policy meeting this week. While a rate hike is not expected on Wednesday, analysts say the fallout from the Middle East conflict could fuel further debate over the Fed’s path forward.</p>
<p>Tech watchers had something to cheer about as Nvidia kicked off its annual GTC event. The chipmaker projected at least $1 trillion in Blackwell and Vera Rubin sales through 2027, giving investors reason to smile even amid the broader geopolitical uncertainty.</p>
<p>In short, a mix of cautious optimism and strong tech momentum helped lift Wall Street Monday, even as global tensions continue to simmer.</p>
<p>WW International shares rose over 12% after the weight-management company reported stronger-than-expected Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings despite a year-over-year revenue decline.</p>
<p>Coinsilium Group Limited invested US$150,000 in Singapore-based Predictive Labs, gaining a 5.52% stake as part of its expansion into prediction markets.</p>
<p>Tower Semiconductor shares rose over 11% after the chipmaker announced a strategic partnership with Oriole Networks to develop photonic networking technologies aimed at improving AI infrastructure.</p>
<p>Public Storage agreed to acquire National Storage Affiliates in a roughly $10.5 billion all-stock deal that values NSA shares at about $41.68 each.</p>
<p>Nebius Group stock jumped nearly 12% after securing a five-year agreement to provide $12 billion in AI computing capacity to Meta Platforms using large-scale deployments of NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin platform.</p>
<p>Meta Platforms shares rose about 2.4% amid reports the company is considering layoffs that could affect up to 20% of its workforce as it manages rising AI infrastructure costs.</p>
<p>WW International shares surged more than 12% after the weight-management company reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings despite declining year-over-year revenue.</p>
<p>HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd said it will quadruple its AI computing data-center capacity in Canada through its BUZZ HPC unit in partnership with Bell Canada.</p>
<p>Dollar Tree shares gained nearly 4% after the discount retailer posted fourth-quarter earnings that beat expectations even as revenue slightly missed estimates and guidance remained cautious.</p>
<p>2:00pm: No change to Fed policy: analysts</p>
<p>Analysts at UBS are expecting “no change” as far as policy is concerned at this week’s FOMC meeting, and projects the median FOMC participant would still assume that one 25 bp rate cut this year is “appropriate.”</p>
<p>“We expect Chair Powell to be fairly non-committal about the policy outlook. He's much more likely to stress the uncertainty over even the near term outlook than offer something close to guidance about the path ahead,” analysts wrote Monday.</p>
<p>“We expect him to acknowledge the inflation risks from an energy price shock, but remain balanced in conveying the risks. The vulnerable labor market faces more downside risks too, even as energy prices may point to higher headline inflation ahead.”</p>
<p>Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s CEO, is scheduled to speak tomorrow afternoon. Wedbush wrote that the Street will be looking for insights on enterprise AI spending, system-level optimization, and networking expansions.</p>
<p>In a note ahead of the event, Wedbush analysts wrote that they will be watching Nvidia closely for updates on AI demand, supply chain developments, and the rollout of the VERA Rubin platform.</p>
<p>“This has been a very nervous period of time so far in 2026 for tech investors navigating this Iran Conflict, geopolitical unease, and worries about the AI Revolution,” the analysts wrote.</p>
<p>Shares of Nvidia traded hands at about $185 on Monday afternoon, up almost 55% in the last 12 months.</p>
<p>11:50am: Stocks recovering</p>
<p>“Earlier today it looked like we were poised for a fresh outbreak of risk aversion as Brent pushed through the magic $100 level," noted Chris Beauchamp, Chief Market Analyst at online trading and investing platform IG.</p>
<p>"Stock markets stand or fall by the oil price at present, and in the topsy-turvy world created by the war against Iran, the absence of bad news, and hopes that the war will last weeks rather than months, is enough to prompt a recovery in equities.”</p>
<p>10:55am: Week ahead</p>
<p>Wall Street is gearing up for a jam-packed week, with investors juggling central bank moves, major tech events, and a flood of corporate earnings.</p>
<p>The spotlight will be on the Federal Reserve on Wednesday, when Chair Jerome Powell announces the latest interest rate decision, followed by his press conference. Market watchers are largely expecting the Fed to hold rates steady.</p>
<p>Tech investors have their eyes on San Jose, where Nvidia’s four-day GTC conference kicks off. CEO Jensen Huang is set to deliver the keynote, with appearances from Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Tesla likely to influence chipmakers such as AMD, Taiwan Semiconductor, Broadcom, and Intel.</p>
<p>And, corporate earnings also promise fireworks. Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MU), FedEx Corp (NYSE:FDX, XETRA:FDX), Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA), Lululemon Athletica Inc (NASDAQ:LULU), and General Mills Inc (NYSE:GIS, XETRA:GRM) are all due to report results,</p>
<p>10:00am: Oil still volatile</p>
<p>Stocks opened the week in mixed fashion Monday as investors digested a flurry of geopolitical and economic news.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones jumped 555 points, or 1.2%, to 47,114, while the S&amp;P 500 climbed 82 points, also up 1.2%, hitting 6,714. Meanwhile, tech-heavy Nasdaq slipped 207 points, down 0.9% to 22,105, and the Russell 2000 fell 9 points, or 0.4%, to 2,480.</p>
<p>Oil prices kicked off the day on a high note but pulled back slightly as traders weighed developments in the Middle East. Late Friday, Iran’s major export hub was bombed, and Tehran said the Strait of Hormuz could be used by countries beyond the US, Israel, and their allies—a move that leaves questions about enforcement.</p>
<p>At the same time, the International Energy Agency said some of its 400 million barrels in strategic reserves could be released immediately to Asia, which relies heavily on oil passing through the strait. “Overall, the bombing of Kharg Island—and the continued attacks between the parties—suggests the conflict is not close to an end,” said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote.</p>
<p>Tech is grabbing attention too, with Nvidia NVDA kicking off its four-day GTC developer conference, and Nebius surging after announcing a five-year, $27 billion AI deal with Meta. On the flip side, Dollar Tree shares dipped following a downbeat sales forecast in its latest earnings update.</p>
<p>Investors are also eyeing US economic data due Monday, including the Empire State manufacturing survey and February industrial production. The week is packed on the policy front, with interest-rate announcements from the Federal Reserve on Wednesday, followed by the European Central Bank, Bank of England, and Bank of Japan on Thursday.</p>
<p>Ahead of the bell</p>
<p>Wall Street is pointing cautiously higher. S&amp;P 500 futures are up 0.7%, Nasdaq contracts gain 0.8%, and Dow futures add 0.5%. Not a rally. More a steadying of nerves.</p>
<p>The Iran War is three weeks old and shows no sign of ending. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's traded oil passes, remains effectively shut. Brent crude is holding above $103 a barrel.</p>
<p>WTI is just below $97. Both benchmarks cracked $100.</p>
<p>Some tankers got through the Strait over the weekend. Markets noticed. Whether that optimism lasts is another question. President Trump is leaning hard on NATO allies to join a naval coalition to force the waterway open, warning of a "very bad future" for the alliance if they refuse.</p>
<p>Into this steps the Federal Reserve. Officials begin their two-day meeting today, with a rate decision due Wednesday. Nobody expects a move. Everyone expects Jerome Powell to be asked, repeatedly, what surging energy costs mean for inflation and whether the rate path has changed.</p>
<p>He will choose his words carefully.</p>
<p>Then there is Jensen Huang. Nvidia's GTC conference opens today. The AI trade needs a signal. Huang usually delivers one.</p>