S&P 500 jumps 1.51% and Nasdaq 100 gains 2.15% in early New York trading

US stocks opened sharply higher on Monday, November 9, with the S&P 500 up 1.51% at 7488.22 at 09:45 New York time. The Nasdaq 100 rose 2.15% to 27570.53.

What happened

The S&P 500 traded at 7488.22, a gain of 111.36 points from the previous close of 7376.86. The move came 15 minutes after the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

The Nasdaq 100 outpaced the broader index. It stood at 27570.53, up 580.54 points from the previous close of 26989.99, a rise of 2.15%.

The CBOE Volatility Index, the market's main gauge of expected equity swings, stood at 21.77. That compares with a previous close of 25.64, a drop of 3.87 points, or 15.09%.

Why it matters

The gap between the two indexes shows where buying concentrated early in the session. The Nasdaq 100 gained more than the S&P 500, a pattern that points to strength in the large technology and growth names that dominate the index.

The lower VIX points the same way. A falling reading means options markets are pricing in smaller swings than they were at the previous close. The index remains above 21, so volatility is still not low in absolute terms.

Corporate results added to the backdrop. Constellation Energy (CEG) reported before the open earnings per share of 5.06 USD, against an estimate of 3.9 USD. Revenue came in at 9.55 billion USD, against an estimate of 9.23 billion USD.

For investors, the session opens with a clear risk-on tone in the index data and a marked fall in measured volatility. Early moves of this size can change as the day goes on.

What to watch next

The first question is whether the gains hold through the session until the 16:00 close in New York. Opening-hour moves can narrow or widen as more volume arrives.

Market participants will also follow the VIX, to see whether it stays near 21.77 or returns toward the previous close of 25.64. The relative performance of the Nasdaq 100 and the S&P 500 will show whether the technology-led pattern persists.

On the earnings front, Constellation Energy's results are the only company report in the data for this session. Reaction in the shares and in the wider energy and utilities group will show how investors read the figures.