Yahoo Finance charts show the VIX volatility index stabilizing at 14.3, reflecting subdued market fear. Such low volatility often precedes larger directional moves, implying traders should monitor economic data releases closely. But commodities and energy market watchers see a long runway for upside. Excitement over OpenAI's ( OPAI.PVT ) $500 billion valuation sparked a rally in AI stocks on Thursday, after the company surpassed Elon Musk's SpaceX ( SPAX.PVT ) as the most valuable startup . According to Yahoo Finance, S&P 500 earnings growth estimates stand at 7.4% for 2024, supported by resilient consumer spending. If labor market data remains strong, index targets could shift higher by 3-5%.