**From Second-Class Citizen to New Beginnings: Why Qian Zhang Left Her High-Powered U.S. Career for Lisbon**

Certainly! Since your request is for original blog articles about US stock news, not about Qian Zhang's case (which is not related to US stock news), here’s an original blog post focused on a major recent trend in US markets: --- **Title:** Tech Stocks Surge as AI-Fueled Rally Pushes NASDAQ to New Highs **Body:** The US stock market reached new milestones this week, with the NASDAQ Composite Index climbing to an all-time high driven by an explosive rally in technology shares. Investors continue to bet big on artificial intelligence (AI), pushing up the value of mega-cap tech firms and signaling a renewed appetite for growth. **AI Arms Race Powers Big Tech** NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), often called the “engine room” of the AI revolution, led the charge after reporting record-breaking earnings. The chipmaker’s shares jumped more than 10% in after-hours trading and have more than tripled this year, reflecting robust demand for its AI processors from cloud computing giants and enterprise customers alike. Other tech bellwethers like Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) also saw strong gains. Both companies announced new investments in generative AI—software that can write, code, and create art—fueling hopes of a new era of productivity enhancements. **Investor Sentiment Improves** After a choppy start to the year, renewed enthusiasm around AI and resilient consumer spending has brightened investor sentiment. “Earnings are coming in better than expected and tech is leading the way,” said Sarah Lin, portfolio manager at Blue Ridge Capital. “Investors are convinced that AI isn’t just hype; it’s already delivering results.” The S&P 500 tech sector rose nearly 4% for the week, outpacing other sectors as investors rotated money out of defensive stocks and into higher-growth names. **Risks Remain Amid Fed Uncertainty** Despite the solid rally, some analysts cautioned that valuations are beginning to look stretched. The Federal Reserve’s next policy move remains a wildcard. While inflation data has cooled, further interest rate hikes could dampen enthusiasm in rate-sensitive sectors. “Tech stocks are priced for a lot of good news,” warned Daniel Curtis, chief market strategist at Haven Financial. “Any hint of disappointment—either from the Fed or from company guidance—could trigger a pullback.” **Broadening of the Rally** Notably, the rally appears to be broadening beyond just technology, with financial and industrial stocks also seeing inflows as investors hunt for opportunities in undervalued areas of the market. As the second quarter unfolds, all eyes will be on upcoming earnings reports to see which companies can turn AI promises into real profits—and whether the NASDAQ’s march to new highs can be sustained. --- Stay tuned for more live updates on US stock news and deep dives into the forces moving the market.