Nasdaq jumps 0.90% as Dow Jones hits 49625 while VIX spikes 7.75%

By Samira Vishwas On Feb 25, 2026

The US stock market closed higher with strong gains in major indices. Tech stocks led the rally. Volatility also moved sharply higher.

Dow Jones closed at 49625.97. It opened at 49323.00. The index touched a high of 49712.56 and a low of 49158.28. It gained 230.81 points. That is a rise of 0.47%. Trading volume stood at 574.81M.

S&P 500 ended at 6909.51. It opened at 6843.26. The day’s high was 6915.86 while the low was 6836.33. The index added 47.62 points. That marks a gain of 0.69%.

Nasdaq closed at 22886.07. It opened at 22542.28. The high for the session was 22948.87 and the low was 22539.05. The index jumped 203.34 points. That equals a 0.90% gain. Volume was strong at 1.54B.

Small Cap 2000 ended at 2663.78. It opened at 2660.29. The index touched 2682.42 on the upside and 2642.07 on the downside. It slipped 1.31 points. That is a slight decline of 0.05%.

Dow Jones and S&P 500 performance

Dow Jones showed steady upward movement during the session. The 230.81 point gain reflects positive investor sentiment. The gap between the day’s high of 49712.56 and low of 49158.28 shows moderate volatility.

S&P 500 also posted solid gains. A 0.69% rise signals broad based buying across sectors. The index stayed close to its daily high by the close. That often indicates strong momentum.

Nasdaq leads tech rally

Nasdaq outperformed other major indices. The 0.90% jump highlights strength in technology stocks. The trading range of over 400 points shows active participation from traders. High volume of 1.54B confirms strong interest in growth stocks.

Small Cap 2000 remained flat. The 0.05% dip shows limited movement in smaller companies compared to large cap tech heavy indices.

VIX volatility index surges

S&P 500 VIX closed at 20.57. It opened at 20.49. The index hit a high of 20.64 and a low of 19.80. It gained 1.48 points. That equals a sharp rise of 7.75%.

A rising VIX usually signals higher market uncertainty. Despite gains in major indices, the jump in volatility suggests investors are still cautious.

Overall, the US stock market ended in positive territory with Nasdaq leading the gains. Dow Jones and S&P 500 also posted healthy advances. However, the sharp rise in VIX shows that volatility remains a key factor for traders.