Wall Street Hits Record Highs as Nvidia China Chip Sales Boost Market Optimism

U.S. stock index futures traded steadily Thursday evening after Wall Street closed at fresh record highs, driven by strong gains in technology stocks and renewed optimism over U.S.-China relations. Investor sentiment improved significantly following reports that Nvidia received approval to sell select artificial intelligence chips to several Chinese companies, fueling another rally in semiconductor shares.

S&P 500 Futures remained stable at 7,525.25 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures gained 0.1% to 29,713.0 points. Dow Jones Futures held near 50,141.0 points after the Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed the key 50,000 level earlier in the day.

Nvidia shares surged more than 4% to a new all-time high after reports indicated the U.S. government allowed the company to sell its H200 AI chips to multiple firms in China. Although deliveries have not yet begun, investors viewed the development as a positive sign for future semiconductor exports and global AI demand. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang also visited China alongside President Donald Trump this week as discussions over technology trade continued.

The broader chip sector also advanced after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) projected the global semiconductor market could exceed $1.5 trillion by 2030. U.S.-listed TSMC shares climbed 4.5%, adding momentum to the tech-heavy Nasdaq.

Markets were also closely watching the Trump-Xi summit, where both leaders expressed optimism about strengthening economic ties between the United States and China. Discussions reportedly included tariffs, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, and global trade issues. President Trump stated he hoped relations with China would become “stronger and better than ever before.”

Despite ongoing geopolitical concerns, including tensions involving Iran and disruptions to Asian energy flows, investors focused on improving diplomatic relations and strong growth prospects in the AI and semiconductor industries.