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U.S. stock markets closed mostly higher on Wednesday lifted by the financial sector on the back of record high yields in U.S. government bonds. However, lukewarm performance by the technology sector somehow marred the market rally. The Dow and S&P 500 closed in the green while Nasdaq Composite ended in red.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) closed at 26,405.76, climbing 0.7% or 158.80 points. The S&P 500 Index (INX) was up 0.1% to close at 2,907.95. However, the Nasdaq Composite Index (IXIC) closed at 7,950.04, declining 0.1%. A total of 6.52 billion shares were traded on Wednesday, higher than the last 20-session average of 6.23 billion shares. Decliners outnumbered advancers on the NYSE by 1.17-to-1 ratio. On the Nasdaq, decliners had an edge over advancers by 1.17-to-1 ratio. The CBOE VIX decreased 8.1% to close at 11.75.
How Did the Benchmarks Perform?
The Dow closed in positive territory for the second straight day, posting its highest close since Jan 26. Notably, 20 components of the 30-stock blue-chip index closing in the green while nine finished in the red and one remained unchanged. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ended in the red reversing its previous day’s gains due to lukewarm showing by large-cap tech giants.
The S&P 500 finished in the green for the second straight day led by an increase of 1.7% in Financials Select Sector SPDR (XLF) and a 1.1% rise in Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB). However, Utilities Select Sector SPDR (XLU) and Real Estate Select Sector SPDR (XLRE) lost 2.2% and 1%, respectively. Notably, 5 out of 11 sectors of the benchmark index finished in the green while six ended in the red.
Financial Sector Lifts the Dow and S&P 500
Financial stocks were the best performer on Wednesday. On Sep 19, the yield on benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury Note reached 3.081%, its highest since May 17. Moreover, yield on short term 2-year U.S. Treasury Note crossed 2.8%, its highest level since 2008.
The increase in government bond yields was primarily attributed to expectations of higher economic growth in the third quarter of 2018. Moreover, despite lingering trade related tensions between United States and China, it seems that investors are gradually getting confident that the situation may not be as worse as was earlier believed to be.
A hike in interest rate will raise the cost of funds, which in turn will enable the financial sector, especially banks, to widen the spread between longer-term assets, such as loans, with shorter-term liabilities, thus bolstering the sector’s profits.
Consequently, shares of banking behemoths such as The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS - Free Report) , JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM - Free Report) , Citigroup Inc. (C - Free Report) and Bank of America Corp. (BAC - Free Report) were up 2.9%, 2.9%, 3.3% and 2.6%, respectively.
Technology Sector Pulls Down Nasdaq Composite
The technology sector finished in negative territory on Wednesday with Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) losing 0.3%. Several large-cap tech stocks lost value pulling down the Nasdaq Composite in the red. Notable among them are Microsoft Corp. (MSFT - Free Report) and Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN - Free Report) .
Shares of Microsoft declined 1.3% despite raising quarterly dividend rate by nearly 10% as investors were expecting more. Moreover, Amazon declined 0.8% following news that the European Union antitrust authority has initiated a preliminary investigation about the company’s business practices with third party clients who use the online retailer’s platform to sell its products.
The Commerce Department reported that Housing starts increased 9.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.282 million units in August, better than the consensus estimate of 1.232 million units. Moreover, number of housing starts in July was upwardly revised to 1.174 million from 1.168 million reported earlier.
However, Building permits decreased 5.7% to a rate of 1.229 million units in August, missing the consensus estimate of 1.316 million units. Moreover, number of building permits in July was downwardly revised to 1.303 million from 1.311 million reported earlier.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that U.S. crude oil inventories declined 2.1 million barrels for the week ended Sep. 14. This was the fifth consecutive week that EIA reported drop in U.S. crude oil inventory. Consequently, West Texas Intermediate crude oil price rose $1.27 or 1.8% to $71.12 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the U.S. current-account deficit declined 17% in the second quarter of 2018 to $101.5 billion from the revised first quarter estimate of a deficit of $121.7 billion. Notably, the second quarter current account deficit was lowest in three years and better than the consensus estimate of a deficit of $103.7 billion.
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Image: Bigstock
Stock Market News For Sep 20, 2018
U.S. stock markets closed mostly higher on Wednesday lifted by the financial sector on the back of record high yields in U.S. government bonds. However, lukewarm performance by the technology sector somehow marred the market rally. The Dow and S&P 500 closed in the green while Nasdaq Composite ended in red.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) closed at 26,405.76, climbing 0.7% or 158.80 points. The S&P 500 Index (INX) was up 0.1% to close at 2,907.95. However, the Nasdaq Composite Index (IXIC) closed at 7,950.04, declining 0.1%. A total of 6.52 billion shares were traded on Wednesday, higher than the last 20-session average of 6.23 billion shares. Decliners outnumbered advancers on the NYSE by 1.17-to-1 ratio. On the Nasdaq, decliners had an edge over advancers by 1.17-to-1 ratio. The CBOE VIX decreased 8.1% to close at 11.75.
How Did the Benchmarks Perform?
The Dow closed in positive territory for the second straight day, posting its highest close since Jan 26. Notably, 20 components of the 30-stock blue-chip index closing in the green while nine finished in the red and one remained unchanged. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ended in the red reversing its previous day’s gains due to lukewarm showing by large-cap tech giants.
The S&P 500 finished in the green for the second straight day led by an increase of 1.7% in Financials Select Sector SPDR (XLF) and a 1.1% rise in Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB). However, Utilities Select Sector SPDR (XLU) and Real Estate Select Sector SPDR (XLRE) lost 2.2% and 1%, respectively. Notably, 5 out of 11 sectors of the benchmark index finished in the green while six ended in the red.
Financial Sector Lifts the Dow and S&P 500
Financial stocks were the best performer on Wednesday. On Sep 19, the yield on benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury Note reached 3.081%, its highest since May 17. Moreover, yield on short term 2-year U.S. Treasury Note crossed 2.8%, its highest level since 2008.
The increase in government bond yields was primarily attributed to expectations of higher economic growth in the third quarter of 2018. Moreover, despite lingering trade related tensions between United States and China, it seems that investors are gradually getting confident that the situation may not be as worse as was earlier believed to be.
A hike in interest rate will raise the cost of funds, which in turn will enable the financial sector, especially banks, to widen the spread between longer-term assets, such as loans, with shorter-term liabilities, thus bolstering the sector’s profits.
Consequently, shares of banking behemoths such as The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS - Free Report) , JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM - Free Report) , Citigroup Inc. (C - Free Report) and Bank of America Corp. (BAC - Free Report) were up 2.9%, 2.9%, 3.3% and 2.6%, respectively.
Technology Sector Pulls Down Nasdaq Composite
The technology sector finished in negative territory on Wednesday with Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) losing 0.3%. Several large-cap tech stocks lost value pulling down the Nasdaq Composite in the red. Notable among them are Microsoft Corp. (MSFT - Free Report) and Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN - Free Report) .
Shares of Microsoft declined 1.3% despite raising quarterly dividend rate by nearly 10% as investors were expecting more. Moreover, Amazon declined 0.8% following news that the European Union antitrust authority has initiated a preliminary investigation about the company’s business practices with third party clients who use the online retailer’s platform to sell its products.
Amazon carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Economic Data
The Commerce Department reported that Housing starts increased 9.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.282 million units in August, better than the consensus estimate of 1.232 million units. Moreover, number of housing starts in July was upwardly revised to 1.174 million from 1.168 million reported earlier.
However, Building permits decreased 5.7% to a rate of 1.229 million units in August, missing the consensus estimate of 1.316 million units. Moreover, number of building permits in July was downwardly revised to 1.303 million from 1.311 million reported earlier.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that U.S. crude oil inventories declined 2.1 million barrels for the week ended Sep. 14. This was the fifth consecutive week that EIA reported drop in U.S. crude oil inventory. Consequently, West Texas Intermediate crude oil price rose $1.27 or 1.8% to $71.12 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the U.S. current-account deficit declined 17% in the second quarter of 2018 to $101.5 billion from the revised first quarter estimate of a deficit of $121.7 billion. Notably, the second quarter current account deficit was lowest in three years and better than the consensus estimate of a deficit of $103.7 billion.
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
It's not the one you think.
See This Ticker Free >>