U.S. stock markets surged Thursday as momentum in artificial intelligence (AI) investments drove the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite to new record highs — even as a federal government shutdown continued.
Investors leaned into AI-related names and optimism around OpenAI developments, seeing these as powerful tailwinds in an otherwise uncertain macroeconomic environment. With key economic data delayed by the shutdown, markets focused squarely on technology as the leading growth narrative.
The shutdown has created a blind spot in economic visibility, as critical reports from federal agencies are stalled, adding to the drama of Wall Street’s rally. Despite that, the equity run reflects investor confidence in AI’s potential to reshape sectors. 
