The Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 50,000 points for the first time on Friday as investors rallied in response to a rout in tech stocks earlier in the week.

The closely watched index rose above 50,000 for the first time after 2 p.m. during Friday’s trading session after rising more than 1,000 points on the day, which represents a gain of more than 2.2%.

President Donald Trump celebrated the news in a Truth Social post on Friday afternoon.

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“The Dow Jones Industrial Average just hit 50,000 for the first time in History. CONGRATULATIONS AMERICA!” Trump wrote.

Chip stocks surged on expectations they would benefit from increased spending on artificial intelligence (AI) data centers by Amazon and Google parent company Alphabet.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 50,000 points for the first time Friday. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Shares in Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and Broadcom all rose by more than 7%. Amazon’s stock fell nearly 7% after announcing it planned to ramp up capital expenditures by more than 50% this year amid the AI race after a similar announcement by Alphabet Wednesday.

Friday’s rallies in the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq followed three consecutive days of losses amid worries about AI.

“Market sentiment improved after today’s positive report out of the University of Michigan,” said Jeffrey Roach, LPL Financial chief economist. “Median 1-year inflation expectations hit the lowest since January 2025, providing some comfort for investors eager to see improving inflation metrics.”

Several software companies saw stock declines amid investors’ concerns that competition in the AI space could hurt their margins as well as questions about whether valuations have become excessive amid the AI boom.

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“This trade has been volatile, and there have been selloffs at times, but I think there’s enough evidence that there’s real demand for AI products, real promise with what they can do and a necessity of a lot of spending to get there,” said Ross Mayfield, investment strategy analyst at Baird.

“So, when there’s this kind of a sell-off, I think there’s a floor where there’s going to be a certain set of investors that steps in and starts buying these names.”

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Shares in Nvidia and other chipmakers surged amid expectations of continued investment in AI. (Loren Elliott/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The S&P 500 index, which is viewed as more broadly representative of the U.S. market, was up 1.76% at 6,917 points.

Nine of the 11 S&P 500 sector indexes rose, led by the information technology index’s gain of more than 3.7% and a nearly 2.7% gain by the index for industrials.

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The S&P was about 1% below its record-high close that was set last week, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq was down about 4% from its record high close last October.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Federal regulators are expanding an investigation into 1.27 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks after reports of safety issues related to the vehicles’ transmissions.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it received reports from drivers that the trucks faced an unexpected transmission downshift that came without warning or driver input. The auto regulator said drivers reported that the issue was often accompanied by a temporary rear-wheel lockup or skidding that increases the risk of a crash.

The probe covers model years 2015-2017 F-150 trucks equipped with “6R80” transmissions. The F-150 is the perennial best-selling pickup truck in the U.S.

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A model year 2015-2017 Ford F-150 pickup truck at Ford’s Rouge Center. (Ford Motor Co.)

NHTSA’s investigation follows a preliminary evaluation that it opened on March 21, 2025, after receiving complaints about the 6R80 transmission.

In its response to NHTSA’s information request, Ford said the alleged defect in the 2015–2017 F-150s differs from the issue that prompted four safety recalls covering 2011–2014 models.

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Ford added the earlier recalls were caused by manufacturing problems with a part supplied by an outside vendor, which led to loss of signals from a speed sensor.

The automaker said the alleged defect in the newer vehicles could be caused by electrical connections wearing down due to thermal cycling and vibration over an extended time in service, leading to signal loss from the transmission range sensor (TRS).

FOX Business reached out to Ford for comment.

The investigation covers model years 2015-2017 F-150 pickup trucks. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation also identified another potential safety defect related to the alleged issue with the TRS. In preliminary testing, the agency found that vehicles suffering TRS signal loss while moving up an incline while in reverse could shift into neutral, causing the vehicle to roll forward.

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ODI said it had opened an engineering analysis to conduct further testing and review additional technical data.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Danone and Nestle have given assurances to the FSA that recalled batches were produced some time ago and are unlikely still to be on UK shop shelves. However, they may be in cupboards at home, which is why parents and caregivers are being asked to check their supplies.

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Bobby Acri is a cybersecurity analyst based in Winnetka, Illinois, who focuses on threat detection, incident response, risk mitigation, and secure systems design.

His work centres on protecting large, complex systems in environments where small weaknesses can create outsized risk.

Born on 17 May 1991 at Evanston Hospital, Bobby grew up on Chicago’s North Shore. He attended Hubbard Woods Elementary, Washburne Middle School, and New Trier Township High School. Early on, he gravitated towards how systems behave under pressure, not just how they look when everything is running smoothly. He built that mindset through computer science coursework, networking classes, and hands-on tech support for school events.

Bobby earned a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2013, with a practical focus on operating systems, networking, and applied cryptography-type work. A 2012 internship with NorthShore University HealthSystem gave him early exposure to enterprise controls in a healthcare setting, where access and process matter.

He began his career in enterprise IT at CDW, then moved into systems administration at Aon, working closely with identity and endpoint workflows. In 2018, he transitioned into security operations at CME Group as a SOC analyst, investigating SIEM alerts, triaging phishing reports, and producing clean incident timelines. Since 2021, he has worked at United Airlines as a cybersecurity analyst, partnering across teams to improve detections, reduce alert fatigue, and strengthen controls before incidents escalate. Known for calm, methodical execution and strong documentation, Bobby leads through clarity, repeatable processes, and continuous improvement.

Where did your interest in cybersecurity begin?

It started with problem solving and systems thinking. Even early on, I cared less about surface level functionality and more about what happens when something breaks or gets stressed. That way of thinking stayed with me through school and into work.

How did your education shape your approach?

I studied Computer Science at the University of Illinois Chicago and finished in 2013. I focused on practical, systems-oriented classes like operating systems and networking, plus applied cryptography-type work. That foundation still shows up in how I investigate issues. I want to understand what the system is doing, not just what a tool says.

What did you learn from your first real enterprise experience?

In 2012, I interned with NorthShore University HealthSystem in IT support. I worked ticket queues, device imaging, and account and password issues. It was also my first close look at a setting where policy and access controls are taken seriously. You learn quickly that process is not optional when sensitive systems are involved.

How did your early career roles prepare you for security work?

I started at CDW as a service desk analyst supporting business clients. The work taught me how enterprise environments fail in everyday ways, and how users experience risk. I also built a habit of writing things down. If a fix works once, it should be repeatable. From 2015 to 2018 at Aon, I worked in systems administration with identity and endpoint support. That role put me close to account provisioning, group policy, patch coordination, and security-adjacent issues like phishing and compromised accounts. It was a clear view of how security, compliance, and business urgency collide.

What changed when you moved into a SOC role at CME Group?

The pace and the signal-to-noise problem got real. From 2018 to 2021, I monitored SIEM alerts, investigated endpoint and network anomalies, and triaged phishing reports. A big part of the job is working out what is just noisy and what is actually dangerous. I focused on clean timelines and clear incident notes. If the timeline is messy, the response is messy. I also started writing runbooks and checklists that other analysts used. That helped the team move faster and more consistently.

What does your role at United Airlines look like today?

Since 2021, I have worked as a cybersecurity analyst focused on threat detection and incident response. I investigate anomalies and support response work, but I also spend time on improvements that prevent repeat issues. That includes partnering with IT and engineering on hardening controls and reducing alert fatigue. If you do not address fatigue, you miss real problems because everything starts to look the same.

How would you describe your working style?

Methodical. Calm under pressure. I use precise language and I separate confirmed findings from suspected ones. I document as I go. I treat near misses as valuable because they show you where the gaps are, without the cost of a full incident.

What do you pay attention to as the field keeps changing?

Evolving attack vectors, cloud security trends, and the regulatory frameworks that shape large enterprises. Cybersecurity demands constant education. I do not treat learning as a side project. It is part of the job.

What keeps you grounded outside of work?

Endurance running along Lake Michigan, strategy board games, and reading history and behavioural science. Those interests connect back to the work in a quiet way. They reinforce patience, pattern recognition, and an understanding of the human side of risk.