Resilient Markets Defy Economic Headwinds: Investors Remain Bullish Amid Shifting Tides
Oct 14, 2024 at 9:02 PM
Stocks Soar as Investors Shrug Off Economic Concerns
Dow Jones futures, along with S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures, were little changed ahead of Tuesday's stock market open. The S&P 500 hit another high Monday, while Nvidia (NVDA) stock had a record high close with sharp gains.Investors Remain Bullish Despite Economic Headwinds
Unemployment Claims and Retail Sales Data on Tap
This week's economic data is relatively light, but investors will be closely watching new claims for unemployment benefits, set to be released on Thursday. Economists expect initial claims to rise by 12,000 to 270,000 in the week through October 12, following a jump of 33,000 the prior week, likely due to the effects of Hurricane Milton. Additionally, September retail sales data, also due on Thursday, will provide insight into the strength of consumer spending, with economists forecasting a moderate 0.45% overall rise from August and a 0.25% gain excluding autos.Nvidia Hits New Record High
Nvidia stock rallied 2.4% on Monday, closing at an all-time high. Shares are just shy of the all-time intraday high price of $140.76, which was set on June 20. The chipmaker's strong performance comes ahead of its earnings report, scheduled for Thursday, along with that of streaming giant Netflix (NFLX) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), another key player in the tech industry.Dow Jones Components in Focus
Among notable Dow Jones components, investors will be watching Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), and Microsoft (MSFT). JPMorgan Chase is approaching a flat base with a buy point of $225.48, while other stocks like Ryan Specialty (RYAN), Texas Roadhouse (TXRH), Toast (TOST), and Uber Technologies (UBER) are also in or near buy zones.Magnificent Seven Stocks Shine
In the Magnificent Seven group, Alphabet (GOOGL), Meta Platforms (META), and Tesla (TSLA) all closed higher on Monday. Alphabet is finding support around its 50-day line, while Meta stock hit a fresh high last week, further above a $544.23 alternate entry. Tesla shares staged a modest rebound after Friday's plunge through the 50-day line.Dow Jones and Oil Prices
Ahead of Tuesday's opening bell, Dow Jones futures, along with S&P 500 futures and tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 futures, were little changed compared to fair value. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield ticked higher to 4.09%, and oil prices dropped, with West Texas Intermediate futures settling around $74 a barrel.