U.S. stocks end mostly higher as tech propels gains amid AI enthusiasm

U.S. stocks closed mostly higher Thursday, as technology companies fueled gains amid investor enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence. The S&P 500
SPX,
+0.88%
finished 0.9% higher, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite
COMP,
+1.71%
climbed 1.7% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average
DJIA,
-0.11%
slipped 0.1%, according to preliminary data from FactSet. Chip maker Nvidia Corp.
NVDA,
+24.37%
was the top-performing stock in the S&P 500, surging as the index’s tech sector closed with sharp gains of more than 4%, preliminary FactSet data show. Communication services was the second strongest sector in the S&P 500 on Thursday, rising a modest 0.4%. Nvidia shares have skyrocketed as investors anticipate the company will benefit from generative AI.