US Markets Rise at Open Driven by Chipmaker Strength as Earnings Season Begins
US stock markets opened higher on Friday as chipmakers regained their leadership role. This movement marks the start of the fourth-quarter earnings season.
Insights:
Major stock indices in the US 
USopened with gains on Friday, January 16, 2026, as the semiconductor sector reasserted its leadership at the beginning of the fourth-quarter earnings season. The S&P 500 rose 16.1 points, or 0.23%, to 6960.54 at the opening bell. During the same period, the Nasdaq Composite increased by 109.7 points, or 0.47%, to reach 23639.687, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a more modest gain of 24.3 points, or 0.05%, to open at 49466.7.
USopened with gains on Friday, January 16, 2026, as the semiconductor sector reasserted its leadership at the beginning of the fourth-quarter earnings season. The S&P 500 rose 16.1 points, or 0.23%, to 6960.54 at the opening bell. During the same period, the Nasdaq Composite increased by 109.7 points, or 0.47%, to reach 23639.687, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a more modest gain of 24.3 points, or 0.05%, to open at 49466.7.
