US stocks inch to more records as inflation slows and Oracle soars - AP News
📈 US stocks hit new records on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 rising 0.3% to an all-time high after a second consecutive day of index peaks.
🤖 Wall Street rallied due to positive inflation data and a stunning growth forecast from Oracle driven by the artificial intelligence boom.
📉 The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 220 points or 0.5%, making it the only major US index to decline despite overall market gains.
📜 Inflation at the U.S. wholesale level unexpectedly slowed in August, providing relief following months of data suggesting inflation would remain tough to control.
🏦 The encouraging inflation report is seen as paving the way for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates at its upcoming meeting next week.
💹 Investors hope the economy slows enough to convince the Fed to cut rates without triggering a recession or pushing inflation above the 2% target.
🚀 Oracle stock surged 35.9% for its best day since 1992, even though quarterly earnings came in just shy of analyst expectations.
☁️ Oracle CEO Safra Catz reported four multi-billion dollar contracts and expects cloud infrastructure revenue to jump 77% to $18 billion this fiscal year.
🔮 Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison stated that "AI Changes Everything," highlighting the company's confidence in future demand surging due to artificial intelligence.
💡 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. saw its US-trading stock climb 3.8% after reporting a nearly 34% revenue jump in August, driven by AI chip demand.
🎉 Klarna, a Swedish financial services provider, gained 14.6% on its first day as a publicly traded stock on the New York Stock Exchange.
⚠️ Novo Nordisk's US-trading stock ticked up slightly despite announcing plans to cut 9,000 jobs and facing increased competition in the weight loss drug market.
🍎 Apple dropped 3.2%, serving as the heaviest single weight dragging down the S&P 500 after its new iPhone unveiling lacked major surprises.
📉 Synopsys shares fell 35.8% after reporting quarterly profits that missed analyst expectations for chip design and engineering services.
📊 The S&P 500 closed at 6,532.04, the Dow Jones Industrial Average at 45,490.92, and the Nasdaq composite rose to 21,886.06.
🌏 International markets were mixed, with South Korea's Kospi rising 1.7% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index climbing 1%.
📉 The yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.04% from 4.08%, reflecting bolstered expectations for upcoming interest rate cuts due to inflation news.
- Wall Street hit new record highs, with the S&P 500 rising 0.3% to set an all-time high for a second consecutive day.
- Oracle stock surged 35.9% for its best day since 1992 as AI-related demand is expected to send revenue surging.
- CEO Safra Catz announced that Oracle signed four multi-billion dollar contracts during its latest quarter.
- Oracle expects cloud infrastructure revenue to jump 77% to $18 billion this fiscal year, with projections of soaring to $144 billion in just four years.
- Inflation at the U.S. wholesale level unexpectedly slowed in August, potentially paving the way for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut next week.
- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported revenue jumped nearly 34% in August from a year earlier, driving its stock up 3.8%.
- Klarna leaped 14.6% on its first day as a publicly traded stock on the New York Stock Exchange.
- Oracle's recent stock surge of 35.9% occurred despite quarterly revenue coming up just shy of analysts' expectations, indicating potential overvaluation.
- Apple's drop of 3.2% was the heaviest single weight on the S&P 500, dragging the Dow Jones Industrial Average lower amid concerns that new iPhones offered no surprises and may not drive significant growth in demand.
- Synopsys fell 35.8% after reporting quarterly profits that missed analysts' expectations, signaling weakness in the chip design sector.
- Klarna experienced a 14.6% stock jump on its first day as a public company, but this debut was marred by an initial lack of trading history and market skepticism about its valuation.
- Novo Nordisk announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs to reduce costs due to intensifying competition in the weight loss drug market, highlighting potential profitability pressures despite Wegovy's success.