For the market to continue rallying, more companies will need to deliver strong earnings growth to justify high prices, say strategists at Morgan Stanley.
Wall Street
encountered a slight retreat on Monday, with the
Dow Jones Industrial Average
, S&P 500, and
Nasdaq
all experiencing downturns after witnessing substantial weekly gains previously. The Dow Jones dropped by 162.13 points or 0.41%, settling at 39,313.77. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq saw declines of 0.31% and 0.27%, ending at 5,218.21 and 16,384.47, respectively.
Investors are currently navigating through uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve’s interest rate direction, following last week’s affirmation of three potential rate cuts this year.
However, conflicting remarks from Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee and Fed Governor Lisa Cook suggest a cautious approach towards interest rate adjustments.
Despite the overall market dip, specific sectors such as technology displayed resilience. Notably, shares of Nvidia and Micron Technology surged, although the broader semiconductor segment faced challenges due to new regulations in China affecting US microprocessors.
Market sentiment remains tentative as participants await the upcoming Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, a critical inflation measure influencing the Fed’s decisions. This anticipation is set against a backdrop of a holiday-shortened trading week, adding to the market’s subdued activity.
Further dynamics include the performance of major companies like Boeing, which announced significant management changes, and Walt Disney, which enjoyed an uplift following an upgrade from Barclays. However, the tech sector faced additional pressures from a European regulatory probe, particularly affecting giants such as Apple, Alphabet, and Meta.
As the market landscape evolves, investors remain vigilant, weighing the implications of macroeconomic indicators, corporate developments, and regulatory shifts on their portfolios.
(With inputs from agencies)