Wall Street opened higher on Friday as gains in artificial intelligence-linked stocks helped lift investor sentiment, even as markets digested a widely expected interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan.In early trade, the S&P 500 rose 0.5%, extending gains from the previous session though the index remained lower for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 256 points, or 0.5%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.7%, led by advances in technology shares. Nvidia and other AI-related stocks moved higher after recent volatility, AP reported.Winnebago Industries surged 14% after posting quarterly profit and revenue that comfortably exceeded analysts’ expectations. In contrast, Nike shares slid more than 10%, with investors focused on the impact of tariffs despite what was otherwise a strong earnings performance. Deckers Outdoors, the owner of Ugg and Hoka brands, fell over 3% amid similar concerns over trade pressures.Oracle gained 4% after announcing that it, along with Silver Lake and MGX, had signed agreements to form a new US joint venture for TikTok. Each investor will hold a 15% stake, enabling the platform to continue operating in the US.Markets in Asia advanced after the Bank of Japan raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 0.75%, its highest level since 1995. The move was widely anticipated. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1%, while the country’s 10-year government bond yield crossed 2% for the first time since 2006.“The Bank of Japan’s decision to raise interest rates at its meeting today was clearly signaled ahead of time and therefore came as no surprise,” Abhijit Surya of Capital Economics said.Asian stocks were further supported by optimism over potential US Federal Reserve rate cuts following softer-than-expected US inflation data. European markets were largely flat in midday trade.In commodities, US crude oil rose to $56.31 a barrel, while Brent crude edged up to $60.12. Bitcoin climbed nearly 4% to just under $88,000.
