Market Summary: December 3rd

Market Summary: December 3rd

Key Highlights:

The S&P 500 rose by less than 0.1%, marking its third consecutive record close.

The Nasdaq climbed 0.4% to a record high, while the Dow fell 0.2%.

Top performer: Palantir Technologies (PLTR) surged 6.9%.

Biggest loser: Microchip Technology (MCHP) dropped 7%.

S&P 500 Gains

Palantir Technologies (+6.9%)

Palantir soared after announcing it had secured FedRAMP High Authorization for its full suite of cloud products, enabling expanded services for U.S. government agencies.

Axon Enterprise (+5.3%)

Shares rose after Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to "outperform," citing potential growth from its AI-driven product packages and increased adoption of premium solutions.

AT&T (+4.6%)

The telecom giant rallied as it unveiled a bold plan to return $40 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks over three years. AT&T also committed to expanding its 5G and fiber networks, promising enhanced shareholder returns.

S&P 500 Losses

Microchip Technology (-7%)

The chipmaker suffered the day's steepest loss after cutting its Q3 sales outlook and announcing plans to shut its Arizona wafer fabrication facility, impacting 500 jobs.

Intel (-6.1%)

Intel's losses extended as investors reacted to news of CEO Pat Gelsinger’s retirement. The search for his replacement continues, with former board member Lip-Bu Tan reportedly in consideration.

On Semiconductor (-5.6%)

The chipmaker fell as analysts flagged concerns over weakening demand in industrial and automotive semiconductor markets, projecting challenges in 2025.

Market Overview

U.S. equities presented a mixed performance on Tuesday. Fresh data showed an unexpected rise in job openings alongside a slowdown in layoffs for October, signaling resilience in the labor market. Investors now await Friday’s November employment report for additional insights.

The S&P 500, which spent most of the day in negative territory, rebounded in the afternoon to post modest gains. The tech-heavy Nasdaq outperformed, while the Dow Jones experienced slight losses.

Other Notable Movements

On the Upside:

Axon Enterprise received analyst upgrades due to its innovative AI and law enforcement products.

AT&T gained investor confidence with its robust shareholder returns plan.

On the Downside:

Microchip Technology struggled with restructuring costs following its Arizona plant closure announcement.

Intel remained under pressure as leadership uncertainty persisted.

The S&P 500's resilience signals continued investor optimism amid a robust labor market and corporate updates, but sector-specific challenges weighed on key players in semiconductors.