S&P 500 Eyes Longest Weekly Winning Run in 2024: Markets Wrap

(Bloomberg) — Wall Street traders wading through a slew of corporate results sent stocks toward their longest weekly winning run in 2024.

Equities hovered near record levels, with the S&P 500 set for its sixth consecutive week of gains. Big tech outperformed on Friday, buoyed by solid earnings from Netflix Inc., which drove the shares up 10% to an all-time high. Apple Inc. climbed 1.3% on news iPhone 16 sales in China surged 20% in their first three weeks compared with the previous model. American Express Co. sank 3% after trimming its revenue forecast as it awaits signs of economic improvement that will fuel further consumer spending.

The bulk of the growth in S&P 500 earnings continues to come from tech megacaps, with the “Magnificent Seven” expected to show an 18% rise in profits in the third quarter, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. While the other index’s firms are seen posting an only 1.8% increase in earnings, their results are projected to accelerate to double-digit gains in the first quarter of 2025.

“Earnings season is off to the races, and despite some mixed signals, appears to be in good shape,” said Liz Young Thomas, head of investment strategy at SoFi. “We’re in the early innings though, and coming up on the final days before the election and the next Fed meeting. Never a dull moment.”

The S&P 500 rose 0.4%. The Nasdaq 100 climbed 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed. Treasury 10-year yields fell two basis points to 4.07%. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index slid 0.2%. 

Oil dropped as the US revived a push to end the conflict in the Middle East and China’s crude demand slipped. The Asian nation disclosed more details of its measures to boost capital markets after data showed the economy slowed. Gold topped $2,700.

“The sustainability of the equity bull market is improving,” says David Donabedian at CIBC Private Wealth US. “Just look at the fundamentals. Third-quarter earnings are solid. Economic data continues to point towards growth. This week retail sales were above expectation, telling us consumers are still spending. And positive market performance is broadening out.”

Even as the S&P 500 jumped from one record to the next this year, indicators that gauge investor sentiment found that mood was subdued, given uncertainties about the Federal Reserve, geopolitics and the US election. This week, however, optimism has returned, though its timing is flashing a bearish signal for stocks.

Ned Davis Research’s Daily Trading Sentiment Composite returned to its optimistic zone on Tuesday, and history says every time this happened in an election year, stocks had a middling run through Election Day — on Nov. 5 this year. On the other hand, when sentiment was pessimistic as of mid-October, the benchmark index posted a 2.5% median gain over a similar period.  

“The bottom line is that the recent return to optimism could weigh on the market heading into a tight election,” said Ed Clissold, chief US strategist at Ned Davis. However, if rising political uncertainty from here dampens optimism, that would set the stage for a post-election rally, he added.

“We believe the environment remains constructive for US equities,” said David Lefkowitz at UBS Global Wealth Management. “Earnings growth is broadening out. While the election outcome adds a layer of uncertainty, we don’t think any potential policy changes stemming from the election will significantly alter the environment. Valuations are high in absolute terms, but we think they are reasonable in light of the macro environment.”

To Quincy Krosby at LPL Financial, it is highly unlikely that investors and traders alike will feel the anxiety of missing out if the technology sector delivers weaker than expected numbers and softer guidance.

“A pullback as we inch closer to overbought technical conditions could offer a modicum of support as we enter a crucial week for earnings and move closer to what big tech reports and even more important, what big tech sees ahead,” she said.

Looking ahead, Tesla Inc. faces questions on its earnings call next week on production targets and regulatory challenges after the unveiling of its much-hyped Cybercab failed to enthuse investors and quell concerns over its recent vehicle sales. 

Boeing Co. will also have to mollify investors increasingly concerned over production delays, labor strife and depleted financial resources. 

Reports from United Parcel Service Inc., Norfolk Southern Corp. and Southwest Airlines Co. should reveal the combined impact of Hurricane Helene and the three-day East Coast dockworker strike on the recent quarter. 

Corporate Highlights:

• Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. jumped after activist investor Jana Partners said that it had amassed a 5% stake in the company in a bid to push the french-fry supplier to explore strategic alternatives. The Wall Street Journal first reported the stake, and said Jana plans to push Lamb Weston to explore a sale.
• Procter & Gamble Co. posted a second straight quarter of sluggish sales growth, dragged down by minimal price increases and weakness in key areas such as skin and baby care.
• SLB warned oil explorers’ spending growth has waned in recent months as they take a cautious approach amid lower crude prices.
• Ally Financial Inc. dropped after the auto lender gave a more pessimistic outlook for loan charge-offs and lowered its net interest margin forecast as consumers struggle with expensive debts.
• Verizon Communications Inc. will buy some of US Cellular Corp.’s spectrum licenses for $1 billion as the tower operator sheds parts of its portfolio.
• Warren Buffett sold another slug of Bank of America Corp. stock after the lender repurchased enough of its own shares to nudge his stake back above 10% — a regulatory threshold that requires rapid disclosure.
• CVS Health Corp. named David Joyner as its new chief executive officer, ending a tumultuous tenure for Karen Lynch at the pharmacy giant.
• BMW AG is recalling nearly 700,000 vehicles in China due to coolant pump defects, a fresh setback for the German carmaker that’s reeling from other vehicle faults.

Some of the main moves in markets:

Stocks

• The S&P 500 rose 0.4% as of 12:37 p.m. New York time
• The Nasdaq 100 rose 0.6%
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed
• The MSCI World Index rose 0.4%
• Bloomberg Magnificent 7 Total Return Index rose 0.6%
• The Russell 2000 Index was little changed

Currencies

• The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.2%
• The euro rose 0.3% to $1.0863
• The British pound rose 0.2% to $1.3036
• The Japanese yen rose 0.5% to 149.48 per dollar

Cryptocurrencies

• Bitcoin rose 2.6% to $68,687.1
• Ether rose 1.8% to $2,643.22

Bonds

• The yield on 10-year Treasuries declined two basis points to 4.07%
• Germany’s 10-year yield declined three basis points to 2.18%
• Britain’s 10-year yield declined three basis points to 4.06%

Commodities

• West Texas Intermediate crude fell 1.4% to $69.69 a barrel
• Spot gold rose 0.9% to $2,716.13 an ounce

This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.

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