S&P 500 Rebound Looks Fragile as Chip Strength Masks Thin Breadth

U.S. equities rebounded Thursday driven by semiconductor strength, with Intel, Applied Materials, and Arm Holdings surging on AI chip demand. However, gains were narrow and fragile, masked by weak breadth as small-caps declined and Oracle tumbled on disappointing cloud revenue guidance. Hot inflation data (4.2% CPI, 6.5% PPI) reinforced expectations for Fed rate hikes, keeping the Russell 2000 under pressure and limiting broader market participation.