MONEY MASTER

The Dow Jones hit a record high driven by industrial and healthcare stocks, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq slipped as weakness in Big Tech outweighed strong earnings from Micron. This is no longer a broad rally, it’s a rotation away from Big Tech into other sectors. What’s Really Happening The market is splitting into two directions: Winners (Old Economy / Defensive): Caterpillar surged on industrial strength Merck rose on M&A optimism UnitedHealth gained on stability Losers (Big Tech / AI Leaders): Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia all declined Pressure came from pricing concerns and stretched valuations Even strong earnings from Micron which jumped sharply were not enough to lift the broader tech sector. Why? This shift highlights a key change in market leadership: Investors are  taking profits from AI winners Capital is rotating into  non-tech, value and defensive sectors Inflation (PCE at 4.1%) is keeping  rate pressure alive In short: The AI trade is still stron...

US equities staged a strong rebound, with major indices rising over 1%, as  falling oil prices and signs of potential de-escalation in the Middle East boosted risk sentiment . Stocks Snap Losing Streak on Diplomatic Optimism Wall Street rallied after reports of  “productive” US-Iran discussions , prompting a temporary delay in planned strikes. Dow Jones Industrial Average  rose  1.4% S&P 500 Index  gained  1.2% Nasdaq Composite Index  climbed  1.4% The move snapped a  three-day losing streak , signalling a shift back to  risk-on sentiment .  Oil Collapse Drives Market Relief The rally was driven by a sharp reversal in oil prices: Crude plunged as much as  14% intraday Prices fell to around  US$84 per barrel The drop followed easing concerns over disruptions in the  Strait of Hormuz , a key route for  ~20% of global energy supply . Lower oil prices helped reduce fears of: Runaway inflation Further interest rat...

 U.S. equities closed at  fresh all-time highs , with gains in  AI-linked and mega-cap stocks  outweighing losses in financial names hit by regulatory concerns. Market Snapshot S&P 500 Index  rose  0.2%  to  6,977.27 , a record close Dow Jones Industrial Average  gained  0.2%  to  49,590.20 , also a record Nasdaq Composite Index  added  0.3% , ending less than 1% below its all-time high Both the S&P 500 and Dow also set  new intraday highs  during the session. What Drove the Market AI and Big-Cap Strength Offset Financial Weakness Gains in selected technology and consumer heavyweights helped reverse early weakness: CoreWeave  surged  12.2% Oracle  rose  3.1% Advanced Micro Devices  gained  2.2% Broadcom  advanced  2.1% Outside tech,  Walmart  climbed  3%  after announcing: Integration of its merchandise with  Alphabet ’s  Gemini AI...

Wall Street rallied on Wednesday as traders bet the US government is just hours away from ending its historic shutdown — a move that would finally unlock critical economic data and help clarify the Federal Reserve’s next steps. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged for a fourth straight session, closing at an all-time high even as big tech lagged. Roughly 300 stocks in the S&P 500 advanced, though weakness in megacaps left the index little changed around 6,850. Bitcoin erased earlier gains. US Treasury yields fell, with the 10-year slipping to 4.07%, as markets priced in a higher probability of a December Fed rate cut. Shutdown Deal to Restore Data Flow — but the Market Is Flying Blind House Speaker Mike Johnson said he expects swift passage of a bipartisan Senate deal endorsed by President Donald Trump. But Democratic leaders are urging members to oppose it, adding last-minute uncertainty. The bigger issue for markets is the blackout in official economic data — including the Oct...

Wall Street ended the week higher, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow Jones Industrial Average all gaining ground as Amazon’s strong earnings and Tesla’s rebound boosted investor sentiment. Index Performance Nasdaq Composite  rose 143.81 points (+0.6%) to 23,724.96 S&P 500  added 17.86 points (+0.3%) to 6,840.20 Dow Jones Industrial Average  inched up 40.75 points (+0.1%) to 47,562.87 Amazon Leads Tech Surge Amazon (AMZN) was the standout performer, climbing 9.6% after delivering robust third-quarter results and an upbeat outlook. Shares reached an intraday record of $255.50 before easing slightly. Tesla (TSLA) rebounded 3.8%, recovering from a 4.6% decline the previous day, while Netflix (NFLX) gained 2.7% after announcing a 10-for-1 stock split. In a market poll, Amazon was voted the top buy choice with 63% of votes, followed by Tesla at 25% and Netflix at 12%. Meta, Microsoft Drag the “Magnificent Seven” Lower Despite broad market gains, only Amazon an...

  Key Takeaways: US equities opened marginally higher, with investors cautious ahead of  key employment benchmark revisions . Dow Jones +0.07% at 45,547.62; S&P 500 +0.13% at 6,503.33; Nasdaq +0.27% at 21,858.17. Markets remain near record highs but sentiment is restrained as labor market data could reshape Fed policy expectations. Market Snapshot Wall Street started Tuesday’s session on a positive note, extending gains after indices closed near record peaks on Monday. Dow Jones Industrial Average:  +32.7 points (+0.07%) to 45,547.62 S&P 500:  +8.2 points (+0.13%) to 6,503.33 Nasdaq Composite:  +59.5 points (+0.27%) to 21,858.17 The modest uptick reflects continued optimism over potential Fed rate cuts but also caution ahead of revised payroll figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, due later today. Investor Focus: Labor Data Revision The market is bracing for the Labor Department’s annual  benchmark payroll revision , which may show significan...

 Key Takeaways The  Dow briefly hit a record high  at 44,959.68, led by Home Depot’s 4.6% rally. The  Nasdaq fell 1% , pressured by Nvidia (-2.1%) and Microsoft (-1.4%). Retail earnings in focus:  Lowe’s, Walmart, Target  due this week. Fed Vice Chair  Michelle Bowman , seen as a Powell successor, backs  three rate cuts  this year. Markets expect  two 25-basis-point cuts , with the first likely in September. Sector rotation:  real estate up 1.2% , tech and communications down more than 1.2%. Movers:  Intel +7.4%  (SoftBank $2B injection),  Palo Alto Networks +4.2%  (strong guidance),  Medtronic -3.8% (activist pressure). Home Depot Boosts Dow While Tech Slips The  Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly touched an all-time high  on Tuesday, driven by a surge in Home Depot shares. The home-improvement retailer gained 4.6% after reaffirming its annual forecast, even as it missed quarterly earnings estim...

 U.S. stocks posted a mixed finish on Thursday despite a  scorching July Producer Price Index (PPI)  reading that initially rattled markets. The  PPI jumped 0.9% month-on-month , the fastest in three years and well above forecasts, sparking a swift sell-off in futures before buyers stepped back in. By the close: S&P 500  eked out a record high. Dow Jones  and  Nasdaq  ended marginally lower. Beneath the surface, small caps and rate-sensitive stocks took heavy hits. Key market dynamics: Rotation stalls  – Earlier in the week, falling bond yields had driven money into small caps and homebuilders. The hot PPI abruptly reversed this trend. Small-cap slump  – Russell 2000 fell  1.2% ; homebuilder ETF  XHB  slid  1.8% . Mega-cap support  – Heavyweights like Amazon and Netflix propped up the indexes, masking broader market weakness. Breadth deterioration  – Decliners outnumbered gainers in the S&P 500 despi...

Global Market Overview Trump’s Broad Tariffs Now in Force U.S. markets were mixed overnight as Trump's sweeping tariff package officially took effect at midnight. While the  Dow Jones  fell 0.51% and the  S&P 500  slipped 0.08%, the  Nasdaq  edged up 0.35% on gains in chip stocks, supported by optimism over waiver eligibility for companies investing in U.S. manufacturing. Intel  shares fell following renewed pressure over CEO ties to China. Apple  and other domestic chip manufacturers gained on expectations of tariff exemptions. The  EU  moved to formalize a 15% cap on semiconductor tariffs, a step toward stabilizing transatlantic trade. New Executive Order Boosts Alternative Investments President Trump signed an order allowing 401(k) plans to invest in  private equity ,  cryptocurrencies , and other alternative assets — a potential catalyst for digital and alternative investment firms. Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, and Cardano all ...

U.S. stocks closed lower on Tuesday with the  Dow Jones Industrial Average  falling  205 points to 44,632.99 , as investors turned cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. Despite the decline, the  CNN Business Fear & Greed Index  remained in the  “Greed” zone at 69.1 , down slightly from 72.2 in the previous session. Market Movers and Economic Data UnitedHealth (UNH)  plunged  7.46%  after reporting weaker-than-expected Q2 2025 earnings, though it reinstated its full-year guidance. Procter & Gamble (PG)  posted better-than-expected Q2 earnings, providing some support to consumer staples. On the data front: Job openings  dropped by  275,000 to 7.437 million  in June, missing estimates of 7.55 million. The  S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index  rose  2.8% YoY  in May. U.S. trade deficit  narrowed to  $86 billion , down $10.4 billion from May. Wholesale ...

The  S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended Friday at record highs , supported by optimism over a potential US-European Union trade deal and a strong earnings report from Deckers Outdoor, the maker of UGG boots and Hoka sneakers. Market Highlights: S&P 500:  +0.40% to 6,388.64 Nasdaq:  +0.24% to 21,108.32 Dow Jones:  +0.47% to 44,901.92 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to meet US President Donald Trump on Sunday, with EU officials indicating that a trade framework could be finalized soon. Trump said the odds of a deal were “50-50.” Company Movers: Deckers Outdoor:  +11% after beating quarterly estimates with strong international demand. Intel:  -8.5% after forecasting deeper losses and announcing more job cuts. Charter Communications:  -18% on worse-than-expected broadband subscriber losses. Centene:  +6.1% on improved profitability outlook for 2026. Paramount Global:  -1.6% after regulators approved its US$8.4B merger with...

Market Comeback Hits a New Milestone After months of volatility, the  S&P 500 briefly surpassed its all-time high of 6,144.15  on Thursday — marking its first visit back to record territory since February. While it didn’t close above that level, it reflects a  strong 23% rebound  from the index’s April lows. The  Nasdaq Composite  and  Nasdaq-100  have also climbed back to record levels, powered by tech stocks that have surged over  30% since April 8 . In contrast, the  Dow Jones  has lagged, rising only 14% and remaining 4% below its peak. Why the Rally? Several catalysts have helped: Tariff tensions eased  as President Trump softened his stance. Cooling inflation  in May’s CPI report. Oil prices tumbled , lowering cost pressures. Middle East tensions eased , reducing geopolitical fears. These events combined to  stabilize market sentiment  and restore confidence. MoneyMaster Take: The rebound is real  ...

In a significant shift, Nvidia will join the Dow Jones Industrial Average , replacing Intel after its 25-year presence on the blue-chip index. This transition highlights Nvidia’s ascendance in the semiconductor space, driven by its AI dominance, and reflects Intel’s recent challenges and declining market influence. Nvidia, whose valuation has surged to $3.32 trillion , has become pivotal to the AI industry, with its chips powering generative AI and other advanced technologies. In contrast, Intel has faced setbacks, including missing out on opportunities in AI and falling behind in manufacturing to competitors like TSMC. Intel’s stock has dropped 54% this year , making it the Dow's worst performer. The swap, effective next week, will see Nvidia alongside Sherwin-Williams, which is set to replace Dow Inc., further reshaping the index to reflect current industry leaders. Key Takeaways: Intel’s Decline: Intel's stock drop and lower revenue have diminished its influence in the chip...

  Stocks hit new all-time highs , with investors eagerly awaiting corporate earnings to bolster confidence in a potential soft landing for the economy. The S&P 500 rose nearly 1% , marking its 46th record close of the year, driven by optimism about earnings reports from major companies. Despite reduced third-quarter forecasts , many believe that Corporate America will deliver positive surprises this earnings season. Analysts expect S&P 500 firms to post their weakest growth in a year, with an average 4.3% increase in earnings , according to Bloomberg Intelligence . However, corporate guidance suggests potential growth of around 16% , indicating companies could exceed expectations once again. Nvidia Corp , Apple Inc , and Tesla Inc led gains among megacap stocks , with Goldman Sachs and Citigroup advancing ahead of their quarterly earnings reports. The Nasdaq 100 added 0.8% , and the Dow Jones climbed 0.5% . Treasury futures dipped slightly , while the US dollar ed...

  Wall Street closed flat on Friday, hovering near record highs for the Dow Jones and S&P 500 after the Federal Reserve's midweek 50-basis-point rate cut , which initiated a new cycle of rate reductions. The dollar strengthened as investors digested the Fed’s move, while debates continued over the future of inflation and the economic outlook. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.09% to 42,063.36 , while the S&P 500 dipped 0.19% to 5,702.55 , and the Nasdaq Composite closed 0.36% lower at 17,948.32 . Investors weighed concerns about the possibility of a soft landing , where inflation cools without triggering a recession. Some market participants, like Michael Matousek of US Global Investors, suggested that the rate cut might be raising fears about unknown risks lurking beneath the surface. Nike boosted the Dow, with shares climbing after the company announced that Elliott Hill would return to succeed John Donahoe as CEO. Meanwhile, utilities outperform...

On July 5, 2024, Wall Street reached new intraday all-time highs, while U.S. Treasurys rallied. This movement followed a nonfarm payrolls report that further supported the case for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, coming after a mid-week holiday. The benchmark S&P 500 gained 0.29%, reaching 5,553.05 points in midday trading, while the Nasdaq Composite  advanced 0.75% to 18,325.49 points. However, the Dow experienced a slight decline, down 0.19% at 39,234.47 points. Of the 11 S&P sectors, seven were in positive territory. Before the market opened, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that job growth slowed in June, with May's numbers revised lower. Additionally, the unemployment rate increased to 4.1% from 4.0%. According to Wells Fargo's Sarah House, the underlying details indicate a softening U.S. labor market. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, emphasized on social media that it is time for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. He po...

It hasn't been like this for a while but the US stocks saw a surge yesterday and rose across the board, supported by the jump in oil price while rally in Amazon.com just made S&P 500 to reach its best day in two months. Wall Street bullish All three major averages closed about 1.25 percent higher in high volume trade, with the Dow up about 222 points. S&P 500 jumped 1.25 percent to 2,084.39 while Nasdaq Composite added 1.26 percent to 4,809.88. Amazon.com jumped 3.43 percent to a record of $703.07, giving the biggest boost to the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. All 10 major S&P sectors gained and seven of them were up over 1 percent, led by a 1.75 percent rise in the energy index. Oil rose over 4 percent as supply disruptions in Canada and elsewhere overshadowed fears of oversupply. International stock markets were helped by solid corporate earnings in Europe, progress on Greek debt talks, and a new pledge by Japan that it was prepared to weaken t...

Stocks advanced Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising above the 18,000 level for the first time since July, as investors shook off oil’s losses on failed output talks and looked toward a bevy of corporate earnings this week. The index jumped about 100 points to close above 18,000 on Monday. It's a pretty sweet milestone considering the Dow plunged to just 15,451 in January, as Wall Street freaked out over the crash in oil prices and China's economic slowdown. Cooler heads eventually prevailed as investors realized the American economy is not collapsing and cheap oil is actually good for most Americans. The Dow is now up 16.5% from its 2016 low, and is within striking distance of its all-time record high of 18,351 set last May. The S&P 500 also closed at a fresh 2016 high on Monday. Even the Nasdaq is closing in on a key level: The tech index is now down just 1% on the year. That's impressive given the fact the Nasdaq was flirt...

Standard & Poor's 500 Index turns positive for 2016 in the wake of a  dovish Federal Reserve that helped the gauge post its longest weekly winning streak since November. One of the greatest comeback in the history The S&P 500 followed the Dow Jones Industrial Average to advance for the year, after a poor start to the year, with  The Dow jumping by 12% in 24 days through Thursday, boosted by seven separate daily advances exceeding 1%. It's amazing given that 2016 has started with one of the worst performance so far but a stunning comeback with stocks pushing over the top as US Fed signaled a slower pace of interest-rate increase this week. The S&P 500 added 0.4% to 2,049 and is now up 0.3% this year after falling as much as 11%. According to a report from Bloomberg, Friday’s gains were braced by health-care companies, with the group on the way to ending the longest losing streak in two months. Banks were on pace to halt a three-day slide after also lagging...