U.S. stocks open higher amid easing oil prices, OpenAI revenue reports

On Friday, U.S. stocks began the trading day on a positive note, as concerns surrounding OpenAI's revenue outlook took a backseat while oil prices showed signs of easing. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed by 101 points, the S&P 500 added 26 points, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 177 points. Nasdaq had previously been down 1.3% on Thursday, while S&P 500 fell 0.5% and the Dow edged up 0.1% on the day.

Tech-focused chip manufacturers and businesses involved in AI infrastructure were among the largest underperformers. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell by 3.4%, Nvidia dropped 2.9%, Advanced Micro Devices lost 3.9%, and Micron Technology declined 4.8%.

Reports surfaced indicating that OpenAI claimed its annualized revenue had reached nearly $50 billion by the end of September, which was lower than the $70 billion figure previously mentioned by media outlets. However, a subsequent Bloomberg News report claimed that OpenAI's annualized revenue was indeed around $50 billion at the end of September.

Analysts at Vital Knowledge noted that the debate surrounding OpenAI's revenue was more about mathematical calculations than a reflection of slowing artificial intelligence demand.

Apple's shares dropped after it was reported that the company had cut back on iPhone 18 orders due to sluggish demand. Meanwhile, U.S. mobile tower stocks surged after SpaceX agreed to purchase a nationwide block of low-band spectrum, potentially paving the way for the satellite company to build a ground network. Telecom carrier stocks like AT&T and Verizon suffered on the news.

Delta Air Lines lowered its profit forecast due to soaring fuel costs, which surpassed an increase in fares. The airline's shares fell accordingly. With few earnings reports on the horizon, investors also kept an eye on the decline in oil prices. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would not engage in any military operations against Iran prior to the upcoming midterm elections, easing some concerns over potential disruptions to Middle East oil supplies.