US Stocks Climbed on Confidence, Tech

US stocks closed higher as the S&P 500 (SPX) rose 0.80% and the Nasdaq (^IXIC) gained 1.08% after a stronger-than-expected Conference Board consumer confidence print and positive tech headlines that supported risk appetite and pushed yields lower. European markets were mixed with the CAC 40 (FRA40) up 0.26% while the FTSE (UKX) and DAX (DAX) traded essentially flat (-0.04% and -0.02%) as regional data and sector moves offset one another. In Asia Shanghai (000001.SS) and the Nikkei (NKY) climbed about 0.87% each while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HSI) fell 1.82% amid PBOC policy signaling and local flow dynamics.

Leading sectors included technology (VGT +1.53%), consumer discretionary (XLY +1.53%) and industrials (XLI +1.25%). Healthcare (XLV -0.38%) and energy (XLE -0.01%) underperformed while real estate and financials were largely flat (VNQ +0.23%, XLF +0.50%). Notable stock moves: KEYS (21.81%), IBRX (17.68%) and UCTT (17.00%) among top gainers; CECO (-22.85%), XMTR (-21.31%) and WHR (-13.80%) led decliners.

Conference Board consumer confidence rose to 91.2 in February, beating consensus and supporting US equity gains while coinciding with a firmer dollar (DXY) and lower Treasury yields (US10Y). The PBOC left one- and five-year LPRs unchanged at 3.00% and 3.50%, which contained near-term CNY depreciation pressures and helped steady regional sentiment, and ADP private payrolls printed 12.75K, a modest sequential gain that keeps labor signals mixed and tempers aggressive rate-cut expectations.

U.S. Customs' announcement to halt collection of IEEPA-based tariffs effective Feb. 24 reduced a source of daily tariff receipts and pressured import-dependent sectors and Treasury cash-flow forecasts. AMD's multi-year GPU agreement with Meta and the attached performance-based warrant triggered a sharp rally in AMD and lifted several AI-infrastructure suppliers, while Home Depot's Q4 beat and dividend raise supported early strength in HD and Westlake's large restructuring and goodwill charges weighed on WLK and chemicals peers. Helix Energy's stronger-than-expected Q4 and explicit 2026 guidance re-rated HLX and related offshore-services names. Completed transactions included 3iQ's earlier-than-anticipated closing with Coincheck Group, MIRATECH's acquisition of Exhaust Control Industries, Sompo's acquisition of Aspen, WSP's acquisition of TRC, and the closing of Eagle Energy Metals' business combination with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. II. Announced deals included VisionWave's agreement to acquire a 51% controlling stake in a certified aerospace manufacturer, Bitwise's acquisition of Chorus One, and several regional franchise and turf-management transactions.