Wall Street Highlights: S&P 500, Nasdaq, Nvidia Close at Record Highs Ahead of Tech Earnings
π S&P 500 closed 0.1% higher to renew record levels as Wall Street's top technology stocks fueled a 10% gain this month.
π» Nvidia shares rose 4% to hit a fresh high, helping push US stocks eked out small gains on Monday.
π Brent crude rose 3% to around $108 per barrel while the Cboe Volatility Index hovered at 18 amid geopolitical monitoring.
π Major tech giants Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple are scheduled to release earnings this week, representing a quarter of the S&P 500's market cap.
π° Citigroup analyst Kristen Bitterly noted eight consecutive quarters of double-digit earnings growth suggest sustained investment if sustained.
β‘ Semiconductor stocks took a breather after a historic run, with the SOX index falling 1% for the first time in 18 straight sessions.
π Marvell Technology dragged down chip stocks after Celestial AI cancelled purchase orders to Poet Technologies, causing a 47% drop for Poet.
π± Qualcomm shares finished higher following speculation of work with OpenAI on smartphone processors despite earlier declines.
π Geopolitical tensions remain relevant as Iran proposes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and strengthening partnership with Russia ahead of US stock movements.
π§ Analysts suggest the AI trade is driving earnings revisions, though they caution against ignoring continued geopolitical risks affecting materials and industrials.
π Hedge funds are using recent equity rallies to reduce risks while volumes remained low and market breadth was narrow at record highs.
βοΈ The Federal Reserve is expected to hold rates steady on Wednesday as the Senate considers Kevin Warsh's nomination as Fed Chair successor.
π Single-stock moves included Apple dropping more than 1% amid Qualcomm OpenAI processor speculation and Domino's sinking after missing revenue estimates.
π Organon & Co. surged 17% after Sun Pharmaceutical Industries lined up financing for its $12 billion acquisition of the New York-listed healthcare company.
- Nvidia Corp. shares rose 4%, hitting a fresh record high that contributed to Wall Street's biggest technology stocks powering the S&P 500 Index's 10% gain this month.
- Eight consecutive quarters of double-digit earnings growth in the US market have sustained investor confidence, with Citigroup Global Markets expecting the investment to continue if growth persists.
- Qualcomm Inc. shares finished higher after speculation emerged that the company is working with OpenAI to develop smartphone processors, sparking an advance in the semiconductor sector.
- Organon & Co. surged 17% following a reported short-term loan from Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. to help finance its $12 billion acquisition of the healthcare company.
- The Federal Reserve is expected to hold rates steady in its latest interest-rate decision on Wednesday, providing stable monetary conditions for corporate earnings and market momentum.
- Analysts suggest that the market is reducing its reaction to US/Iran headlines, trending toward a short-term deal followed by more detailed negotiations that could alleviate geopolitical risks.
- The Philadelphia Stock Exchange Semiconductor Index fell 1%, snapping its record 18th-straight session of gains, signaling potential cooling in the AI trade optimism.
- Marvell Technology Inc. dragged down the chip stock gauge after its unit Celestial AI cancelled purchase orders to Poet Technologies Inc., triggering a significant 47% wipeout in Poet's shares.
- Apple shares dropped more than 1% due to speculation about Qualcomm developing smartphone processors, highlighting competitive threats in the semiconductor sector.
- Domino's Pizza Inc. sank after its first-quarter revenue missed average analyst estimates, indicating earnings volatility even among large-cap stocks.
- The Federal Reserve meeting is expected on Wednesday, with investors monitoring inflation risks tied to energy, geopolitics, and supply shocks that could derail rates staying on hold.
- Geopolitical risks remain elevated as tensions involving Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Russian President Vladimir Putin persist, potentially spooking markets despite recent calming headlines.
- Hedge funds are using the US equity rally to reduce risks, suggesting institutional caution ahead of earnings reports from major tech companies representing a quarter of the S&P 500 Index.
- Any cracks in the earnings outlook as top companies report in coming weeks pose a significant risk to market momentum, according to Goldman Sachs prime brokerage desk analysis.