U.S. stock markets recorded their best month since 2020, powered by a massive rally in the technology sector as the AI boom fueled soaring profits for semiconductor and data storage companies. This investor optimism persisted despite ongoing geopolitical tensions from the Iran conflict, which drove up inflation, hurt earnings for oil giants, and prompted the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates steady. The week also saw significant corporate drama, with budget carrier Spirit Airlines preparing to cease operations after a bailout deal collapsed and the high-stakes legal trial between Elon Musk and OpenAI getting underway.

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