Tech stocks were higher Monday afternoon, with the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) rising 1.9% and the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) adding 3%.
The Philadelphia Semiconductor index gained 3.1%.
In corporate news, Rocket Lab (RKLB) agreed to acquire satellite communications provider Iridium Communications (IRDM) in a cash-and-stock deal worth about $8 billion to create a vertically-integrated space company. Rocket Lab shares jumped 14%, and Iridium surged 23%.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) plans to unveil a discussion draft of a bill that seeks to address the rapid rise of AI agents and the impact on the confidentiality of users' private information, The Information reported Monday, citing the draft, which it viewed. The legislation draft also seeks to determine whether massive platforms like Meta Platforms (META) and Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google can throttle other services' agents, the report said. Meta shares were up 2.7%, and Alphabet was rising 4.5%.
Apple (AAPL) is seeking White House approval to buy memory chips from CXMT, a blacklisted Chinese firm with alleged ties to the People's Liberation Army, Bloomberg reported Saturday. The company is seeking to reduce costs amid soaring memory chip prices, the report said. Apple shares were down 0.8%.