The market is starting Friday on a strong note, with futures rising and crude oil dropping below $90, boosting investor confidence. Major resistance levels that took months to build were broken this week, and the VIX is signaling a potential weekly sell signal, which supports higher stock prices. The S&P 500 has surged above 7,000 while the NASDAQ 100 hit new all-time highs.
Big-cap tech continues to dominate market performance, with semiconductors leading gains. Several Magnificent Seven stocks are approaching key breakout levels, including Amazon, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, while Apple and Tesla still lag. Bitcoin remains range-bound near $75,000 as investors watch for a decisive breakout.
Stephen Whiteside
Friday, April 17, 2026
