US Markets See Mixed Finish as Micron-Led AI Rally Is Offset by Apple’s Decline
U.S. stock markets experienced a divided session on Thursday, with strong earnings from memory chip maker Micron Technology fueling a rally in AI-related stocks, while a slump in shares of other tech giants, including Apple, weighed on the major indexes.
U.S. equities closed with a mixed performance on Thursday, June 25, as investors navigated conflicting signals within the technology sector. While a powerful rally in semiconductor stocks, sparked by stellar results from Micron Technology, renewed optimism in the artificial intelligence space, a sharp decline in Apple shares and other mega-cap names capped broader market gains.
At the closing bell, the S&P 500 was nearly unchanged, slipping less than 0.1% to 7,357.49. The Dow Jones Industrial Average managed a modest gain, rising 0.1% to 51,920.62. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite saw the largest move, falling 0.5% to 25,358.60. In contrast, the Russell 2000 index of smaller companies advanced 0.7%.
A Tale of Two Techs
The day's main driver was Micron Technology, which saw its stock surge after reporting quarterly profit and revenue that significantly surpassed analyst expectations. The company's strong forecast, driven by robust demand for its memory chips used in AI data centers, helped alleviate recent concerns that the AI-fueled market rally had become overextended.
The positive sentiment from Micron spread to other semiconductor companies, providing a significant boost to the sector. However, this enthusiasm was not enough to lift the entire technology landscape. Shares in Apple Inc. fell over 6% after the company announced price increases for its MacBook and iPad products, creating a substantial drag on both the Nasdaq and the S&P 500. Other major technology stocks, including Microsoft, also finished the day lower.
Inflation and Yields
Also influencing market sentiment was the latest inflation data. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, a key inflation gauge for the Federal Reserve, showed a 4.1% annual increase in May. This figure, while a three-year high, was in line with economists' forecasts. The absence of an unexpected spike in inflation was seen as a positive, contributing to an easing of Treasury yields in the bond market, which can be supportive for stocks.
Sources
- How major US stock indexes fared Thursday 6/25/2026
- Stock Market Today (June 25, 2026): Mag7 falls after Apple, Microsoft announce price increases on iPhone, Xbox
- How major US stock indexes fared Thursday 6/25/2026
- Wall Street drifts to a mixed finish after Micron soars and Apple drops
- Stocks rally on renewed AI optimism, oil price declines
- Micron and Qualcomm forecasts ignite $400 billion AI chip stock rally
- Stock Market Today, June 25: Micron Surges, Apple Falls, and Inflation Data Weighs on Stocks
- Micron Sparks Fresh AI Stock Rally
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