Stocks Continue Higher as AI Trade Heats Up

Weakening crude prices and retreating bond yields are giving investor sentiment a boost this afternoon, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) and Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) sporting triple-digit leads. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) is also notably higher as AI-related stocks rally, with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) surpassing the $1 trillion market cap level. 

Middle East developments are in focus as well, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would be open to speaking with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian at the U.N. General Assembly this week. Also worth noting, Paramount Skydance (PSKY) reportedly reached a settlement with four holdout states that is expected to clear the way for its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).

Continue reading for more on today's market, including:

• Growth plan outlook disappoints NVO bulls.
• Bitcoin surge triggers more gains for Coinbase Global stock.
• Plus, travel stock options popping today; a surging semiconductor name today; retailer pulling back to familiar support.

Booking Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:BKNG) is trading 0.3% higher at $168.43 this afternoon, still hovering near its late-June levels as the stock attempts to recover from the travel sector pullback. BKNG sports a 21% year-to-date loss for 2026, but has been seeing ample attention in the options pits. So far 33,000 calls and 34,000 puts have been exchanged, 10 times the average intraday rate. The October 150 put and 170 call are seeing the most attention, the latter of which exhibits opening activity.

Semiconductor name Wolfspeed Inc (NYSE:WOLF) is one of the top names on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today, up 7.8% at $27.56. Headed for a third-straight daily pop, the equity is attempting to work its way out of its recent consolidation. The stock tapped a record high of $80.82 on May 22, but has since struggled to breakout and above the 50-day moving average.

Retail stock Capri Holdings Ltd (NYSE:CPRI) was last seen down 5.3% at $13.95, one of the worst market performers at the NYSE today, though the catalysts remains unclear. CPRI's pullback looks to be captured by the $14 level, though the equity has already shed 42% in 2026.