New York, 25 September 2026 – A rally in Microsoft helped lift US equities as investors returned to artificial-intelligence leaders, even while higher bond yields kept the market’s valuation debate in focus. The S&P 500 rose 0.51% to 7,743.41, while Microsoft gained 3.66% to close at US$516.17 after announcing a broader set of Copilot capabilities.
The software group’s move was consequential because of its size in major equity benchmarks. A sharp advance in one heavyweight can support the index even when gains are less evenly distributed across the market. For Asian investors using US technology stocks as a gauge for regional sentiment, the session therefore signalled renewed enthusiasm for AI exposure, but not necessarily a broad improvement in risk appetite.
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