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☆ Wall St inches higher as investors focus on Fed minutes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Johann M Cherian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SummarySummary Companies Fed minutes due at 2:00 p.m. U.S. stocks shed more than 2% on Tuesday after a rebound in business activity in February stoked fears of interest rates staying higher for longer. "We expect all indicators to point to the Fed remaining hawkish in its inflation fight." However, stocks have had a volatile run in February as traders priced in higher interest rates for longer, considering inflation remains elevated in the face of a sturdy economy. Money market participants expect rates to peak at 5.35% by July and stay around those levels till the end of 2023.

☆ European shares flat as Telecom Italia drags eurozone stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) was flat after opening marginally higher. That also boosted oil prices, lifting European energy stocks (.SXEP) by 0.3%. The EURO STOXX index (.STOXXE), which houses major companies in the eurozone, dipped 0.1%. Telecom Italia (TIM)(TLIT.MI) shares dropped 3% as a government-sponsored offer rivalling KKR's bid for the former phone monopoly's prized grid failed to materialise over the weekend. The European autos and auto parts sector index (.SXAP) rose 0.6%.

☆ US stocks end volatile session mixed after inflation cools by less than expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

US stocks finish Tuesday's choppy session on a mixed note. January headline inflation cooled to 6.2% but the rate was higher than anticipated. Core CPI, which strips out energy and food prices, rose 0.4% for the month. "The journey to get to normal inflation rates will be a bumpy ride as energy and commodity prices should rebound with China dropping its zero COVID policies." A ninth straight rate hike is likely to arrive in March.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq (.IXIC) recovered after a weak open, boosted by 4% gains in Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) and Nvidia Corp (NVDA.O). Ten of the 11 major S&P sectors rose, with consumer discretionary (.SPLRCD) and technology (.SPLRCT) leading the gains. "I don't think (this report) moves the needle for the Fed, and I suspect they're taking a hard look at the data. The rally, however, stalled last week on signs of a tight labor market and hawkish commentary from Fed policymakers. Money market traders have priced in at least two more 25 basis point rate hikes this year and see interest rates peaking at 5.2% by July.

☆ Wall St dips as Treasury yields rise after auction
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Carolina Mandl | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"With Treasury yields higher, it becomes a legitimate alternative to equities," said Michael Rosen, chief investment officer at Angeles Investments. Weighing on the S&P 500 (.SPX) and Nasdaq (.IXIC) indexes, Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) extended losses from the previous session to fall 4.7%. All 11 S&P 500 sectors posted losses. More than half of the S&P 500 companies have reported quarterly earnings so far, and 69% of them have beaten estimates, according to Refinitiv data. The S&P 500 posted 15 new 52-week highs and one new low; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 75 new highs and 57 new lows.

☆ Wall St dips as Treasury yields rise; Disney hits 5-month high
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Carolina Mandl | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. 30-year Treasury yield rose after an auction in the early afternoon, while the yield curve between two-year and 10-year notes widened earlier. Weighing on the S&P 500 (.SPX) and Nasdaq (.IXIC) indexes, Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) extended losses from the previous session to fall 5.2179%. The S&P 500 communication services sector (.SPLRCL) sank 2.86%. More than half of the S&P 500 companies have reported quarterly earnings so far, and 69% of them have beaten estimates, according to Refinitiv data. The S&P 500 posted 15 new 52-week highs and one new low; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 69 new highs and 41 new lows.

Investor sentiment was further boosted after data showed initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 196,000 last week, above a forecast of 190,000 claims. The data comes on the heels of a strong January employment report that rattled markets last week. Of more than half of the S&P 500 companies that have reported fourth-quarter earnings so far, 69% have topped estimates, as per Refinitiv data. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 3.03-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 2.17-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded 14 new 52-week highs and one new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 49 new highs and 20 new lows.

The S&P 500 still posted a gain for the week, which included a string of major market events, and stood not far from five-month highs. U.S. job growth accelerated sharply in January, with nonfarm payrolls surging by 517,000 jobs, well above an estimate of 185,000. For the week, the S&P 500 rose 1.6%, the Dow slipped 0.15%, and the Nasdaq gained 3.3%. Alphabet (GOOGL.O) shares dropped 2.7% after the Google parent posted fourth-quarter profit and sales short of Wall Street expectations. The S&P 500 posted 16 new 52-week highs and one new low; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 127 new highs and 16 new lows.

Investors will also parse Chair Jerome Powell's news conference for clues on the trajectory of future rate hikes. All of the 11 major sectors on the S&P 500 were down, with the technology shares (.SPLRCT) falling the least. Dow component Amgen Inc (AMGN.O) slipped 3.7% as the drugmaker said its fourth-quarter revenue fell slightly. With nearly 200 companies in the S&P 500 having reported fourth-quarter earnings, about 70% have topped Wall Street expectations. Analysts now see earnings of S&P 500 firms declining 2.4% for the quarter, per Refinitiv estimates.

☆ The easy January trade was to just buy everything that fell a lot in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Simply buying the worst performers of 2022 seemed to have paid off for investors in January. Discovery have seen the largest bounce back in shares of the group, up 54% after a 60% tumble in 2022. Semiconductor stocks took a beating in 2022 as companies grappled with slowing demand. Of the names included in the list, Lumen Technologies , Epam Systems and Dish Network are the only three downtrodden 2022 stocks bucking the worst-to-first trend. That includes an improvement in long-term trend following indicators, more widespread breakouts, and greater improvement in market breadth, which is currently overbought, she said.

U.S. labor costs increased at their slowest pace in a year in the fourth quarter as wage growth slowed, bolstering expectations of the Fed slowing the pace of its interest rate increases. "As the Fed meeting begins today, they'll be looking at every index that could give them a better judgment on inflation and this is one of them," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities LLC. "Labor costs are still high, but this means costs have come down, and that's a key factor for future wage inflation." United Parcel Service (UPS.N) jumped 4% on strong quarterly earnings, boosting the Dow Jones Transport Average index (.DJT). The S&P index recorded four new 52-week highs and no new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 32 new highs and 14 new lows.

The heavyweight tech sector (.SPLRCT) dropped 1.9% while energy (.SPNY) shed 2.3%, the biggest drop among the S&P 500 sectors. More than 100 S&P 500 companies are expected to report results this week, which also includes central bank meetings in the United States and Europe and closely watched U.S. employment data. Despite Monday's declines, the S&P 500 remained on track to post its biggest January gain since 2019. With more than 140 companies having reported so far, S&P 500 earnings are expected to have fallen 3% in the fourth quarter compared with the prior-year period, according to Refinitiv IBES. The S&P 500 posted 5 new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 67 new highs and 20 new lows.

☆ Stocks fall, U.S. yields climb as central bank hikes awaited
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Chuck Mikolajczak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Investors widely expect the Federal Reserve will raise rates by 25 basis points (bps) on Wednesday, with announcements on Thursday from the Bank of England and European Central Bank (ECB), both of which are largely expected to hike by 50 bps. The U.S. corporate earnings season also rolls on, with earnings this week expected from Apple (AAPL.O), Alphabet (GOOGL.O) and Amazon (AMZN.O). The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) lost 0.17% and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe (.MIWD00000PUS) shed 0.99%. U.S. Treasury yields rose ahead of the central bank meetings and economic data, with the 10-year yield up for a third consecutive session. Crude prices fell ahead of the expected hikes by central banks and signals of strong Russian exports.

☆ Stocks fall, U.S. yields climb with central banks on tap
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Chuck Mikolajczak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] Traders work on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., January 27, 2023. Stocks in Europe closed lower, with rate-sensitive names such as technology shares among the primary decliners after inflation data from Spain came in above expectations while other data showed the German economy unexpectedly contracted in the fourth quarter. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) lost 0.17% and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe (.MIWD00000PUS) shed 0.85%. U.S. Treasury yields rose ahead of the central bank meetings and economic data, with the 10-year yield up for a third consecutive session. Crude prices fell ahead of the expected hikes by central banks and signals of strong Russian exports.

More than 100 S&P 500 companies are expected to report results this week, which also includes central bank meetings in the United States and Europe and closely watched U.S. employment data. Despite Monday's declines, the S&P 500 was on track to post its biggest January gain since 2019. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank is expected to deliver another large rate hike on Thursday. With more than 140 companies having reported so far, S&P 500 earnings are expected to have fallen 3% in the fourth quarter compared with the prior-year period, according to Refinitiv IBES. The S&P 500 posted five new 52-week highs and no new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 51 new highs and 14 new lows.

About a quarter of the S&P 500 companies have reported earnings so far, of which 69% have beaten analysts' estimates, according to Refinitiv data as of Thursday. Both companies were among the biggest boosts to the S&P 500 (.SPX) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI). Seven of the 11 major S&P 500 sectors edged higher with the consumer discretionary sector (.SPLRCD) surging 1.4%. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.32-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.37-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P index recorded 12 new 52-week highs and no new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 43 new highs and 21 new lows.

The stock was the biggest boost to the S&P 500 consumer discretionary sector index (.SPLRCD). So far, 126 companies in the S&P 500 have reported fourth-quarter earnings, with 69% topping consensus estimates. Analysts now see aggregate S&P 500 earnings dropping 2.7% year-on-year for the period . The S&P 500 energy sector index (.SPNY) rose 2.2%, also helped by higher crude prices. The S&P index recorded 21 new 52-week highs and no new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 79 new highs and 20 new lows.

Tesla jumped 10.1%, boosting the S&P 500 consumer discretionary sector index (.SPLRCD). Battered growth stocks have been gaining in January, with the S&P 500 Growth index (.IGX) recouping more than half of the losses logged last month. So far, 126 companies in the S&P 500 have reported fourth-quarter earnings, with 69% topping consensus estimates which is below the average of the past four quarters at 76%, according to Refinitiv. Analysts now see aggregate S&P 500 earnings dropping 2.7% year-on-year. The S&P index recorded 19 new 52-week highs and no new low, while the Nasdaq recorded 63 new highs and 11 new lows.

☆ Wall Street dips as weak corporate guidance fuels recession fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Stephen Culp | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Fourth-quarter earnings season has shifted into overdrive, with 95 of the companies in the S&P 500 having reported. Analysts now see aggregate S&P 500 earnings dropping 3.0% year-on-year, nearly double the 1.6% drop seen on Jan. 1, per Refinitiv. Most of the 11 sectors of the S&P 500 were red, utilities (.SPLRCU) suffering the largest percentage loss. General Dynamics Corp (GD.N) beat quarterly expectations, but a weak 2023 forecast helped send the defense contractor's shares sliding 3.2%. The S&P 500 posted 6 new 52-week highs and 1 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 52 new highs and 26 new lows.

☆ S&P 500 ends slightly down after mixed earnings, opening glitch
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Stephen Culp | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Nasdaq joined the S&P 500 in negative territory, while the Dow ended modestly higher. Fourth quarter earnings season is in full swing, with 72 of the companies in the S&P 500 having reported. On aggregate, analysts now expect S&P 500 earnings 2.9% below the year-ago quarter, down from the 1.6% year-on-year decline seen on Jan. 1, per Refinitiv. Among the 11 major sectors of the S&P 500, industrials suffered the biggest loss. The S&P 500 posted 26 new 52-week highs and 10 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 77 new highs and 22 new lows.

☆ Wall Street totters after mixed earnings, trade halt glitch
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Stephen Culp | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

More than 80 stocks were affected by the glitch, which caused wide swings in opening prices in stocks, including Walmart Inc (WMT.N) and Nike Inc (NKE.N). Fourth quarter earnings season is in full swing, with 72 of the companies in the S&P 500 having reported. On aggregate, analysts now expect S&P 500 earnings 2.9% below the year-ago quarter, down from the 1.6% year-on-year decline seen on Jan. 1, per Refinitiv. Among the 11 major sectors of the S&P 500, industrials was down the most. The S&P 500 posted 27 new 52-week highs and 10 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 69 new highs and 21 new lows.

Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N) dropped 0.4% after forecasting annual profit below estimates, while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) fell 1.3% as it warned that a surge in China COVID-19 cases could dent the first half sales in 2023. General Electric Co (GE.N) fell 0.2% on a disappointing profit forecast for the year, despite topping quarterly earnings estimates. Big Tech earnings could also determine whether renewed enthusiasm for growth stocks will be sustained. Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) is scheduled to report quarterly earnings after the bell. Analysts now see fourth-quarter earnings for S&P 500 companies dropping 2.9% year-on-year, according to Refinitiv data.

Industrial conglomerate 3M Co (MMM.N) fell 5.9%, leading the decliners among Dow components after reporting a fall in quarterly profit. General Electric Co (GE.N) fell 1.1% on a disappointing profit forecast for the year, despite topping quarterly earnings estimates. Big Tech earnings could also determine whether renewed enthusiasm for growth stocks will be sustained. "In the near-term, the answer seemingly lies with tech earnings ... longer-term, if we do experience a Fed pivot this year, then would anticipate a strong, positive buying impulse for tech," JPMorgan analysts wrote in a client note. Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) is scheduled to report quarterly earnings after the bell.

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