"Stock Market Closes Upbeat First Half with Apple's $3 Trillion Market Cap"

The U.S. stock market is set to end the first half of the year with gains, driven by unexpected strength in the economy. The three major indexes, including the tech-heavy Nasdaq, are on track for quarterly and first-half gains. Earnings reports from Nike and Constellation Brands weighed on shares, while U.S. bond prices rose after inflation data. Tech stocks, including Nvidia, Microchip Technology, and Apple, continued to perform well. The Nasdaq is heading towards its best first half in four decades, up 32% in 2023.