U.S. stock markets surged to fresh record levels on Tuesday in a broad rally that marked one of the strongest starts to a year in recent memory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed above 49,000 for the first time, gaining about 1% and setting a new all-time closing high as investor optimism picked up early in 2026. At the same time, the S&P 500 rose roughly 0.6% to close at a new record, and the Nasdaq Composite also advanced by about 0.6%, extending the tech-led market’s strength.
Tech and growth-oriented stocks helped propel the gains, with major players such as Amazon, Micron and Broadcom seeing significant upside amid renewed interest in AI and semiconductor themes. Investors were also reacting to developments from the CES tech show, with competing AI roadmaps from industry leaders keeping sentiment upbeat and supporting broader risk appetite.
Market participants are now turning attention to an upcoming slate of U.S. economic data, including jobs figures, which will be crucial in shaping expectations around monetary policy and future market direction. Meanwhile, strong corporate earnings and ongoing enthusiasm for technology and growth sectors have helped underpin the rally across major benchmarks.
Overall, the session reflected a record-setting start to 2026, with key U.S. indexes achieving milestones that underscore continued confidence in equities early in the year.