Wall Street's major indexes closed higher on Friday, with the Nasdaq experiencing its biggest first-half gain in 40 years. Apple reached a market valuation of $3 trillion, while investors reacted positively to signs of cooling U.S. inflation. The Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all registered gains. Technology stocks led the charge, with Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta Platforms also making significant gains. Small-cap stocks also attracted attention, with the Russell 2000 index recording its longest winning streak since early March. The US economy's strength and cooling inflation have boosted confidence in the Federal Reserve's ability to manage monetary policy.