[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] Despite opening on a positive note, the major indexes wavered and fell below their respective unchanged lines. The Dow showed the most resilience, ending as the only index to close in the green. The tech sector experienced the steepest decline, with companies like Palantir, Nvidia, and Microsoft pulling back. A report indicating that Microsoft is cutting …
Retailers Drag Markets Down Amid Economic Uncertainty
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] Equities dropped this morning as the S&P 500 retreated from yesterday’s new all-time high, following a disappointing forecast from Walmart. The stock fell over 6.5% after the company announced lackluster fiscal year sales growth of 3-4% and a 2026 earnings outlook that fell below expectations. This weak guidance raised concerns about the health of the consumer. …
Equities Rebound On Fed Taper Hints; Dollar And Bitcoin Rally
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] After yesterday’s record session for the S&P 500, the major indexes pulled back moderately due to concerns about persistent inflation and proposed trade tariffs by Trump. He suggested imposing duties of up to 25% on imported autos, chips, and pharmaceuticals. Among the S&P 500 sectors, Materials were the worst performers, losing around 1%, while Energy defied …
Strong Start To Weak Season: Can Market Momentum Continue?
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] The markets showed little activity early on, with the S&P 500 trading near its highs and eventually closing at a new all-time high. Some tech stocks, including Intel, Nvidia, and Microsoft, posted gains, with Intel leading the pack and achieving its largest two-week increase on record. Meanwhile, Meta’s 20-day win streak came to an end, causing …
Equities Climb As Traders Bet On Softer PCE Amid Trade Tensions
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] Following yesterday’s hotter-than-expected Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, today’s Producer Price Index (PPI) numbers also exceeded expectations. The January PPI showed a 0.4% increase, surpassing the consensus of 0.3%. The core PPI, which excludes food and energy, rose by 0.3%, aligning with estimates. Despite these increases, traders pushed equities higher, reasoning that these latest figures suggest …
Fed’s Stance On Inflation Confirmed As CPI Surpasses Expectations
[Chart courtesy of MarketWatch.com] The much-anticipated Consumer Price Index (CPI) report confirmed to me that the Federal Reserve’s decision to delay rate cuts was an acknowledgment that inflation remains a persistent issue. In January, the CPI rose by 0.5% for the month, pushing the annual inflation rate to 3%, surpassing expectations of 0.3% and 2.9%, respectively. The core CPI, which …