Wall Street opened Friday with a firmer tone, as all three major US benchmarks moved higher in late-morning trading, suggesting investors were steadying themselves after a choppy spell for markets. The upbeat session came even as traders continued to weigh whether the recent run in equities, especially in technology shares, can be sustained.

That resilience follows a mixed stretch for US stocks. Reuters reported that on 26 December the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite all slipped fractionally in thin holiday trading, with volumes subdued as many institutional investors were away from their desks. Even so, the broader market had still delivered a strong year, while commodities such as silver were supported by supply tightness.

The latest positive trading also fits a pattern seen repeatedly in recent months, when investors have swung between worries over stretched valuations and renewed optimism about economic support. According to market reports from late November and earlier in the autumn, stocks rallied on expectations of further Federal Reserve easing, with the Nasdaq often among the strongest performers when sentiment improved. Friday's advance therefore looked less like a breakout than another sign that buyers remain willing to step in when conditions turn favourable.

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Source: Noah Wire Services