SpaceX’s long‑awaited IPO lifted Friday’s market tone, snapping a week of jittery headlines on the Middle East war, chip rally and rate worries. The float opened at a valuation of $2.1 trillion, instantly ranking the rocket maker among America’s most valuable firms. Retail enthusiasm drove the stock up double‑digits within minutes.

Vanda Research tracked $18 million of shares changing hands in the first twenty minutes, then total retail buying hit roughly $118 million by market close – the largest individual‑investor IPO on record. Traders like 34‑year‑old podcaster Zaid Admani described the frenzy as an “ultimate FOMO IPO,” with screens glued to the ticker.

The IPO’s surge lifted virtually every sector, from banks and semiconductors to smaller caps, extending gains sparked by easing Middle‑East tensions. Analysts see the response as a barometer for two pending AI listings, suggesting investors remain willing to price risk despite recent rate hikes and AI volatility. The market closed the day on a firm footing.

The retail‑driven momentum also highlighted a shift away from cautious post‑rate‑hike sentiment, as individual investors reclaimed a leading role in price discovery. With the IPO’s success, Wall Street may gauge appetite for upcoming tech offerings, but the immediate impact remains a clear win for risk‑tolerant capital.