Markets: Tech and Precious Metals Surge as Palantir and Earnings Boost Sentiment, 2026-02-03

[Para 1: The Lead] US stocks opened higher, buoyed by strong earnings reports and positive outlooks, particularly from Palantir (PLTR). The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC), S&P 500 (^GSPC), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) gained 0.2%, 0.1%, and 0.3%, respectively. Palantir's robust AI platform demand and revenue surpassing estimates by 11% sent a clear signal of continued growth in the tech sector. [Para 2-3: Supporting details & Context] Earnings season is in full swing, with investors closely monitoring the performance of tech giants. Palantir's (PLTR) strong quarterly results, driven by AI demand, have lifted market sentiment. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) and S&P 500 (^GSPC) are poised to reach new records. Meanwhile, precious metals, including gold (GC=F) and silver (SI=F), experienced dramatic price movements, with gold jumping over 6% and silver surging over 13%. The volatility in precious metals is attributed to dip-buying and market uncertainty. Space stocks also saw a premarket boost after Elon Musk announced SpaceX's (SPAX.PVT) acquisition of xAI (XAAI.PVT) for $1.25 trillion, signaling continued optimism in the space sector.