** S&P 500 .SPX rises second-straight week, adds 1.2% in choppy trading as Middle East tension, chipmaker SK Hynix's US listing dominate the headlines .N

** Dow .DJI slips 0.5%, while tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite .IXIC advances 1.7%

** Markets rattled by Iran remarks into mid-week as S&P 500 support comes into view, but by Fri close, benchmark index appears refocused on its highs

** Retail investors are backing stocks — and a key contrarian signal is nearing a threshold

** In any event, small-cap bulls like what they see in the mirror

** U.S. 10-year Treasury yield US10YT=RR rises to 4.56% area; still coiled with volatility near multi-decade low US/

** In the end, a minority of sectors power up: Tech and Energy fully juiced, while defensive names and Materials drained

** Tech .SPLRCT surges 3.4%. Chip stocks fall on Tues after Samsung 005930.KS results spark fresh AI jitters

Though Broadcom AVGO.O jumps after expanding chip partnership with Apple AAPL.O through 2031

And Micron MU.O rises on boosted $250 bln US investment plan

Semiconductor index .SOX rallies 2.7%. Dips back inside channel, but by Fri close, reclaims 10-week moving average

** Energy .SPNY up 3.2%. Sector gains as oil prices rise on Hormuz attacks O/R

Indeed, geopolitical risk lifts oil, energy stocks join the rebound, but by Fri, crude futures CLc1 fail to hold gains above key moving averages

** Communication Services .SPLRCL up 2.3%. However, Paramount Skydance PSKY.O delays Warner Bros WBD.O deal closing to July 22 amid Oregon probe; PSKY falls

** Consumer Staples .SPLRCS retreat 1.3%. PepsiCo PEP.O slides after warning of rising commodity costs in H2

Costco COST.O drops after June comp sales decelerate from May

** Materials .SPLRCM melt 2.2%. Gold miners including Newmont NEM.N fall after Trump says Iran peace deal 'over'

** Meanwhile, SpaceX SPCX.O in the spotlight as Elon Musk's rockets-to-AI firm joins Nasdaq 100 index .NDX less than a month after IPO

South Korea's SK Hynix 000660.KS, SKHY.O pops in Nasdaq debut after its $26.5 bln share sale

** SPX performance YTD:

Energy	22.1%
Tech	19.5%
Industrials	17.3%
Materials	11.2%
Real Estate	10.9%
SPX	10.7%
Staples	7.5%
Utils	6.3%
Comm Svcs	4.6%
Healthcare	3.9%
Financials	1.7%
Discretionary	-0.7%