Markets closed firmly higher on Friday, September 11, 2026, as Wall Street marked the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with a broad-based rally. The S&P 500 gained 0.85% to settle at 7,650.54, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.97% to 52,247.75. The Nasdaq added 0.87%, finishing at 25,950.14, as technology names led the charge higher.
Small-caps participated in the rally but lagged their large-cap counterparts, with the Russell 2000 rising a more modest 0.41% to close at 2,877.34. The divergence suggests investors continued to favor the relative safety and liquidity of mega-cap stocks heading into the weekend.
Amazon was the standout performer among major names, jumping 1.94% to $256.78, reflecting sustained enthusiasm for big tech even as the broader market digests lofty valuations. On the other end of the spectrum, UnitedHealth Group was the session's notable laggard, falling 2.37% to $379.09 amid ongoing concerns about the healthcare sector's regulatory and cost environment.
Gold remained elevated at $4,354.57, underscoring that despite the equity market's optimistic tone, investors continue to hedge with hard assets — a reminder that not all uncertainty has been priced out of this market.