US stock market today: The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped more than 270 points to 50,407, marking another record, even as the S&P 500 slipped 0.09% to 6,958 and the Nasdaq fell 0.42% to 23,140. The split tells a clear story. Investors rotated into blue-chip, defensive, and dividend-heavy stocks while trimming exposure to high-growth tech. Fresh data showed December retail sales stalled at $735 billion, far below expectations, sharpening bets that the economy is cooling just as markets brace for the January jobs report and a crucial inflation update later this week.
At the same time, signs of resilient AI demand—highlighted by fast January sales growth at Taiwan Semiconductor—helped stabilize sentiment after last week’s volatility. Earnings from household names added fuel to the Dow’s advance, while crypto pulled back and gold steadied near historic highs. The result: a data-driven rally in the Dow, and caution elsewhere.
Why the Dow is surging while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq lag
The Dow’s strength is about composition and timing. The index is packed with established companies that tend to outperform when investors expect slower growth and lower rates. After retail spending flatlined month over month, markets priced in a softer consumer and a Federal Reserve that may stay patient—or turn more supportive—if labor data weakens further.
That backdrop favors industrials, consumer staples, healthcare, and dividend payers, many of which dominate the Dow. By contrast, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq remain heavily weighted toward growth and megacap tech, where valuations are sensitive to rate expectations and earnings visibility. Even modest profit-taking in tech can drag those indexes lower, while the Dow climbs.
Crude oil prices were mostly stable on Tuesday as traders balanced weak demand signals against supply risks. WTI crude traded at $64.31, down slightly, staying near the middle of its 52-week range of $54.98 to $78.40. Brent crude edged up to $67.98, holding above key support as geopolitical talks and inventory expectations kept volatility muted.
In metals, gold hovered near historic levels at $5,078, showing only marginal movement as investors waited for US jobs and inflation data. Gold remains well above its 52-week low of $2,844, reflecting strong central bank buying and risk hedging. Silver slipped to $81.94, extending short-term profit booking after its recent surge.
Natural gas stood out. Prices rose 0.73% to $3.16, supported by colder weather forecasts and tightening storage expectations. Volumes stayed active, signaling continued speculative interest.
Retail sales shock resets rate and growth expectations
The 0% month-on-month retail sales print for December was the first major signal in a packed data week. November sales had risen 0.6%, and economists expected another 0.4% increase. Instead, spending stalled during what is usually the strongest shopping period of the year. Eight of 13 categories declined, and sales excluding autos and gasoline were also flat.
For markets, the message was immediate. A cooling consumer reduces inflation pressure and lowers the risk of further tightening. That supports bond prices and boosts rate-sensitive equities—again, a Dow tailwind. It also raises the stakes for the January nonfarm payrolls report, now the next decisive catalyst. A softer jobs number would reinforce the Dow’s leadership and keep pressure on growth stocks.
Crypto market today: Bitcoin slides below $69,000 as risk appetite fades
Cryptocurrencies faced renewed selling pressure. The Nasdaq Crypto Index dropped 3.27%, reflecting broad weakness across major tokens. Bitcoin fell 2.66% to $68,301, staying under pressure after last week’s sharp volatility. Confidence remains fragile as traders reassess liquidity and institutional flows.
Ether dropped 4.59% to $2,006, underperforming bitcoin amid concerns around near-term network demand. Litecoin slid 2.04%, while XRP fell 2.50%, showing risk-off sentiment across large-cap digital assets. Analysts continue to describe the move as a confidence-driven pullback rather than a structural breakdown.
Today’s hot stocks:
Nvidia steady as AI demand remains in focus
NVIDIA Corporation traded near flat at $190.35, holding close to record levels. The stock remains supported by sustained AI demand and strong data-center spending, even as broader tech sentiment cools.
Oscar Health jumps on outlook optimism
Oscar Health surged 12.40% to $14.23 after investors focused on its forward guidance and path toward profitability beyond its reset year. Volume spiked as sentiment turned sharply positive.
Snap gains as ad outlook stabilizes
Snap Inc. rose 2.60% to $5.33, extending a modest rebound as digital advertising demand shows early signs of stabilization.
Intel slips as chip stocks diverge
Intel Corporation fell 1.31% to $49.58, underperforming peers as investors remain selective within semiconductors despite strong AI-related headlines elsewhere.
Amazon edges lower amid market rotation
Amazon.com slipped 0.64% to $207.38, reflecting rotation away from megacap growth stocks despite stable fundamentals.
MDJM Ltd collapsed over 63%, while Evommune surged more than 72%, underscoring elevated single-stock volatility and speculative trading behavior in lower-cap names.
Markets are entering a high-risk data window. Commodities are stable. Crypto is weak. Stocks are selective. With the US jobs report and inflation data approaching, investors are positioning cautiously. Defensive assets are holding. Risk trades remain volatile. Direction now depends on the next macro signal.
Despite the Nasdaq’s red finish, tech sentiment improved intraday after fresh evidence that AI spending remains robust. January sales at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company grew at their fastest pace in months, easing fears that the AI boom is peaking. That data helped limit downside in semiconductors and supported broader confidence that enterprise tech budgets remain intact.
Large AI beneficiaries such as Nvidia benefited from the read-through, even as investors stayed selective. The takeaway: AI demand is not collapsing, but markets are recalibrating valuations amid macro uncertainty. That selective bid explains why the Nasdaq lagged while avoiding a deeper selloff.
Earnings move the Dow as staples and healthcare come into focus
Earnings were another pillar of the Dow’s advance. Coca-Cola delivered results that reinforced the appeal of predictable cash flows and pricing power in a slowing economy. CVS Health posted a profit decline that still beat expectations and maintained its full-year outlook, supporting healthcare defensiveness.
Elsewhere, Ford Motor Company drew attention ahead of results, while pockets of tech reacted sharply to guidance. Spotify surged after upbeat forecasts, showing that company-specific execution still matters even as the broader Nasdaq softens.
The market’s next moves hinge on data. The January jobs report will test whether last week’s hints of labor market softening were real. Friday’s inflation print will shape expectations for rates into spring. If jobs cool and inflation behaves, the Dow’s leadership could extend as investors favor stability and income. A hot surprise, however, would likely revive pressure on all three indexes—especially growth-heavy benchmarks.