Netflix, Oracle and other technology stocks lifted U.S. indexes as their profits pile higher and excitement builds around the moneymaking prospects of artificial intelligence. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% Wednesday and closed just shy of the record it set in early December.

BMO Capital Markets forecasts the S&P 500 will reach 6,700, reflecting a gain of 13.2%. Chief investment strategist Brian Belski said he and his team "remain resolutely bullish," but expect "performance and fundamentals will more closely match the historical norms -- namely, in the high-single digit/low-double-digit percentage range in 2025."

Analysts at Morgan Stanley say Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is in a "pole position" to capitalize on growing demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI)-powered applications like AI agents. Other analysts seem to agree.

U.S. stock indexes are drifting higher following a mostly encouraging batch of profit reports from big companies

But one Wall Street analyst thinks investors should take advantage of that lull. Oppenheimer 's Rick Schafer just made the company one of his top picks for 2025 in the semiconductor sector. His firm's price target of $175 per share would represent a 27% gain from recent levels.

Europe’s stock benchmark was on track for a record high and US equity futures gained as optimism over more artificial intelligence spending under Donald Trump offset uncertainties over looming tariffs.

Stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region have moved higher after President Donald Trump outlined a pro-business agenda for his second term in the White House and stopped short of imposing new trade tariffs on his first day in office.

World stocks rose on Tuesday and the dollar gained after plunging the previous day as Donald Trump's return to the White House brought mixed messaging on tariffs and highlighted markets' twitching about trade policy.