Tech stocks led the way on Wall Street this morning, with Broadcom shares surging over 19% after the chipmaker's optimistic forecast of a 65% increase in AI-driven sales.

This boost in Broadcom's outlook also had a positive impact on its peers, with Marvell Technology up over 5% and AMD and Nvidia experiencing more modest gains.

The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.5%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.3%. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average remained flat due to a decline in UnitedHealth shares, which have dropped over 15% since the tragic shooting of the company's CEO.

The healthcare sector continues to face challenges as a result of this incident.

Looking ahead, the Nasdaq is on track for a strong weekly gain, having achieved a record close on Wednesday and surpassing the 20,000 milestone for the first time.

Economic data suggests the possibility of a rate cut from the Federal Reserve next week, although concerns about persistent inflation may lead to a more cautious approach in the coming year.