AI stocks lift US markets: Nvidia, Tesla, AMD rise; shutdown delays key data

US stock futures went up on Friday morning. The Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq had closed at record highs the day before. This came even as the US government shutdown continued for a third day. Big gains in AI and tech stocks led the rally. Nvidia, Tesla, and AMD were among the top movers. The shutdown delayed the Labor Department’s monthly jobs report. Investors focused on company earnings and growth in artificial intelligence.

US stock futures rose on Friday. Dow Jones futures increased by 99 points or 0.2%. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures also went up by 0.2% each. On Thursday, all three major indexes had closed at record highs. Technology and AI stocks pushed the market higher. Investors continued to buy shares in companies linked to artificial intelligence and digital services. The rally happened even as the government shutdown entered its third day.

Nvidia reached a new all-time high. Tesla gained 1.8% in premarket trading. This came after a 5% drop in the previous session. AMD rose 3.5% as interest in AI chips stayed strong.
Palantir Technologies' stock went up this year due to higher demand for its AI software. CoreWeave, which offers cloud support for AI, has gained more than 240% since its IPO in early 2025. It also signed a deal with Meta. Nebius Group, which builds AI infrastructure, has seen its stock rise more than four times this year. AppLovin, which makes AI-based mobile ad tools, reported strong growth in Q2 and over 120% stock gains in 2025.

Other companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet are also investing heavily in AI and cloud systems. Their growth is adding to investor confidence in the tech sector.

The S&P 500 is up 1.1% so far this week. The Dow Jones is up 0.6%, and the Nasdaq is up 1.6%. These numbers show that markets are holding steady even during the shutdown. Traders continue to expect strong earnings from large tech firms.

The US government shutdown started three days ago. Lawmakers did not pass a funding bill in time. This forced many federal agencies to stop their work. The Labor Department delayed the September nonfarm payroll report. This report helps the Federal Reserve decide on interest rates. The delay removes an important data point.

The Congressional Budget Office said that around 750,000 federal workers could be furloughed each day. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the funding gap could hurt the economy and affect workers. A Wells Fargo strategist said the effect on the economy may be small if the government reopens soon.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude traded at $60.84 on Friday morning. That was a 0.36% rise for the day. But WTI is down 7.5% for the week. Brent crude is down 8.5% this week. This is the worst week for both since June.

1. Why did US stock futures rise on Friday?
   Stock futures rose due to strong gains in AI and tech stocks, even as the shutdown continued.
2. Which companies led the stock rally?
   Nvidia, Tesla, AMD, Palantir, CoreWeave, Nebius Group, and AppLovin were among the top gainers.
3. What has the government shutdown affected?
   It delayed the September jobs report and could impact GDP and federal workers, according to officials.