Stock Market Today: Nasdaq Rebounds 1.5% as AI Stocks Recover; Dow Slips on Jobs-Driven Rate Fears

New York, Nov. 6, 2026 — U.S. stocks closed mixed on Friday, with the Nasdaq Composite staging a sharp rebound after Thursday’s historic AI-led crash, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged as a stronger-than-expected October jobs report revived fears of a December rate hike.

The Nasdaq Composite climbed approximately 1.5% to close near 24,680, led by a powerful recovery in semiconductor shares . The S&P 500 gained about 0.6% to roughly 7,400 . The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.26% to 51,057.95, weighed down by declines in Salesforce, Nike, and Home Depot .

Why Did the Nasdaq Rebound Today?

1. AI stocks recovered as Texas’s governor-elect clarified her data center stance. The previous session’s brutal selloff was triggered by fears that Democratic midterm victories would throttle the AI buildout. But Gina Hinojosa, Texas’s first Democratic governor since 1995, told CNN she does not plan to ban new data centers in the state. “It is not that I hate data centers,” she said. “I hate the way they are taking advantage of Texas” . Her comments eased concerns that Texas—which accounts for nearly 30% of planned U.S. data center capacity—would impose a moratorium.

2. Semiconductor stocks staged a violent rebound. After the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index plunged 12.2% on Thursday, chipmakers roared back. Nvidia jumped 3.6% to $188.15**, **AMD** surged **11.5%** to **$450.82, and Micron Technology rebounded after a 17% plunge the prior session . The semiconductor index gained roughly 6% .

3. Airbnb surged 12% to a three-year high, leading S&P 500 gainers, while NRG Energy added 11.5% .

Why Did the Dow Lag?

The blue-chip index’s decline reflected its heavier weighting toward traditional industrial, financial, and healthcare companies, which struggled as the strong jobs data pushed rate-hike expectations higher .

Salesforce fell 3.6%, Nike dropped 2.5%, and Home Depot lost 2.0% . Apple also weighed on the Dow, slipping 0.9% to $340.93 .

What Did the October Jobs Report Show?

The Labor Department reported that nonfarm payrolls rose by 165,000 in October, far exceeding the 70,000 consensus estimate. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% from 4.2%, and average hourly earnings rose 0.4% month-over-month and 3.1% year-over-year. August and September payrolls were revised higher by a combined 84,000 .

The robust data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise rates at its December meeting. Fed officials will see one more jobs report and a full slate of inflation data before then .

What Are Treasury Yields and the VIX Saying?

Short-term Treasury securities came under pressure as rate-hike bets increased, while the 10-year yield held near recent levels . The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) retreated after surging roughly 70% to 28 during Thursday’s panic, signaling that investor anxiety eased as AI stocks stabilized .

What’s Next for Investors?

The market’s focus shifts to whether the AI rebound can hold. Thursday’s selloff erased roughly $2.3 trillion in market value, and the Nasdaq remains in correction territory—down more than 10% from its October 6 record close . The coming week brings key inflation data and Fed speakers, which will shape expectations ahead of the December policy meeting.

As one analyst noted, the strong jobs report “is a good reminder that the U.S. economy’s fundamentals remain solid,” even as AI-driven volatility continues to dominate market sentiment .

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Key Takeaways (Quick Summary)

• Nasdaq rebounded ~1.5% after Thursday’s 5.5% crash; S&P 500 gained ~0.6%; Dow slipped 0.26% to 51,057.95
• Texas governor-elect Hinojosa said she won’t ban data centers, easing AI regulation fears
• Chip stocks roared back: Nvidia +3.6%, AMD +11.5%, semiconductor index +6%
• October jobs report smashed expectations: 165,000 jobs vs. 70,000 consensus; unemployment fell to 4.1%
• December rate hike expectations strengthened following the strong labor data
• Airbnb surged 12% to a three-year high, leading S&P 500 gainers
• VIX retreated after spiking 70% during Thursday’s panic