Stocks Climb on Strength in Tech and Earnings Optimism

Rich Asplund - Barchart - Mon Oct 14, 10:11AM CDT

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up by +0.60%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is up by +0.11%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up by +0.68%.

Stocks today are climbing, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrials posting new all-time highs and the Nasdaq 100 posting a 3-month high. Optimism around Q3 corporate earnings is boosting stock prices today after bank stocks rallied last Friday on strong earnings results from JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo. Also, rallies in megacap technology and chip stocks today are lifting the overall market. Losses in Boeing and Caterpillar are limiting gains in the Dow Jones Industrials. Trading volumes are below average today, with trading in the cash Treasury market closed for the Columbus Day holiday, although stock trading remains open.

Comments today from Minneapolis Fed President Kashkari signal he favored a gradual pace of interest rate cuts when he said it appears likely that "further modest reductions" in the federal funds rate will be appropriate in coming quarters.

Trade news from China was weaker than expected, a negative factor for global growth prospects. China Sep exports rose +2.4% y/y, weaker than expectations of +6.0% y/y. Also, Sep imports rose +0.3% y/y, weaker than expectations of +0.8% y/y.

China Sep CPI rose +0.4% y/y, weaker than expectations of +0.6% y/y. China Sep PPI fell -2.8% y/y, weaker than expectations of -2.6% y/y, and the 24th consecutive month producer prices have declined.

Middle East tensions continue to be a negative factor for stocks. In addition to Gaza, Israel is waging a ground and air offensive in Lebanon to combat Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) deployed a fourth division of troops in southern Lebanon while maintaining airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The markets are also awaiting Israel’s response to the October 1 missile barrage from Iran.

The results of corporate Q3 earnings may determine the near-term direction of stocks. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, companies in the S&P 500 are expected to report an average +4.3% increase in quarterly earnings in Q3 from a year ago, down from +7.9% growth projected in July.

The markets are discounting the chances at 87% for a -25 bp rate cut at the November 6-7 FOMC meeting and at 0% for a -50 bp rate cut at that meeting.

Overseas stock markets today are higher. The Euro Stoxx 50 rallied to a 2-week high and is up by +0.71%. China's Shanghai Composite closed up by +2.07%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 was closed today for the Health Sports Day holiday.

Interest Rates

December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ24) today are down by -15 ticks. Due to the Columbus Day holiday, there is no trading today in the cash Treasury market. Dec T-notes today are weighed down by carryover pressure from a slide in European government bonds. Also, today’s strength in stocks has curbed safe-haven demand for T-notes. In addition, T-notes are sliding on negative carryover from last week’s stronger-than-expected US consumer and producer price reports for September, which dampened speculation the Fed will aggressively cut interest rates.

European government bond yields today are higher. The 10-year German bund yield is up by +1.7 bp to 2.282%. The 10-year UK gilt yield climbed to a 3-1/4 month high of 4.259% and is up by +3.7 bp to 4.245%.

Swaps are discounting the chances of a -25 bp rate cut by the ECB at 95% for Thursday’s meeting.

US Stock Movers

The strength in megacap technology stocks is supportive of the broader market. Apple (AAPL), Alphabet (GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta Platforms (META) are up more than +1%

Today’s rally in chip stocks today is boosting the overall market. ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) is up more than +5% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100. Also, Applied Materials (AMAT) and Marvell Technology (MRVL) are up more than +4%, and Nvidia (NVDA) and Lam Research (LRCX) are up more than +3%. In addition, ASML Holding NV (ASML), KLA Corp (KLAC), and ON Semiconductor (ON) are up more than +2%.

Cryptocurrency-linked stocks are climbing today, with the price of bitcoin (^BTCUSD) up more than +4% at a 2-week high. As a result, Coinbase Global (COIN), Marathon Digital (MARA), MicroStrategy (MSTR), and Riot Platforms (RIOT) are up more than +4%.

Longboard Pharmaceuticals (LBPH) is up more than +51% after agreeing to be acquired by H. Lundbeck A/S for $2.6 billion.

Vistra Corp (VST) is up more than +5% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 after BNP Paribas Exane initiated coverage of the stock with a recommendation of outperform and a price target of $231.

SentinelOne (S) is up more than +2% after Piper Sandler upgraded the stock to overweight from neutral with a price target of $32.

PG&E Corp (PCG) is up more than +2% after Jeffries initiated coverage on the stock with a buy rating and a price target of $24.

Elastic NV (ESTC) is up more than +1% after William Blair upgraded the stock to outperform from market perform.

Caterpillar (CAT) is down more than -2% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials after Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock to underweight from equal weight with a price target of $332.

Boeing (BA) is down more than -1% after announcing it plans to cut its global workforce by about 10% and announced $5 billion in charges across its commercial airplanes and defense businesses.

Amgen (AMGN) is down nearly -1% after Truist Securities downgraded the stock to hold from buy, saying upcoming obesity data is already priced into the stock.

VF Corp (VFC) is down more than -4% after Wells Fargo Securities downgraded the stock to underweight from equal weight with a price target of $15.

Deere & Co (DE) is down more than -1% after North American large tractor and combine retail sales in September fell -28%, the biggest decline since 2017.

Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD) is down more than -1% after TD Cowen downgraded the stock to sell from hold with a price target of $106.

Earnings Reports (10/14/2024)

Hingham Institution for Savings (HIFS).

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On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Provided Content: Content provided by Barchart. The Globe and Mail was not involved, and material was not reviewed prior to publication.

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Stocks Climb on Strength in Tech and Earnings Optimism