Market Summary: December 4, 2024
- Posted on December 05, 2024
- Stock Market
- By Samiat
Key Takeaways
The S&P 500 rose by 0.6% on Wednesday, led by strength in tech stocks as investors analyzed remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Salesforce (CRM) shares jumped 11% following optimistic sales and profit guidance, as analysts raised price targets.
Campbell's (CPB) shares declined 6.2% after missing quarterly sales estimates and announcing the CEO's resignation.
Market Overview
Major U.S. equity indexes rallied on Wednesday, driven by strong performances in the technology sector. Investor sentiment remained optimistic following comments by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who emphasized a cautious approach to future monetary policy. Expectations for a potential interest rate cut at the upcoming Fed meeting were further bolstered by ADP's report showing a slowdown in private-sector hiring in November.
The S&P 500 climbed 0.6%, extending its record-setting streak since last week’s Black Friday session.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.7%, closing above 45,000 points for the first time.
The Nasdaq Composite surged 1.3% to a new all-time high, fueled by tech sector outperformance.
S&P 500 Top Performers
1. Salesforce (CRM): +11%
Salesforce led the gains as analysts praised its improved full-year guidance for sales and profits. Its autonomous AI offering, Agentforce, launched in October, continues to attract significant client interest.
2. ServiceNow (NOW): +6.2%
The enterprise software company expanded its partnership with Amazon (AMZN), integrating its platform with AWS and Bedrock AI. Amazon shares also rose 2.2%.
3. Edwards Lifesciences (EW): +5.7%
The medical device maker impressed investors during its annual conference, highlighting its growth strategy and promising pipeline of heart valve repair and replacement technologies.
S&P 500 Largest Decliners
Texas Pacific Land (TPL): -11.6%
The stock experienced volatility after its recent addition to the S&P 500. The company, known for its land holdings in the Permian Basin, has been exploring diversification into bitcoin mining and renewable energy.
Campbell's (CPB): -6.2%
Weak quarterly sales and increased marketing expenses led to profit declines. Additionally, CEO Mark Clouse announced his resignation to join the NFL's Washington Commanders as president.
Albemarle (ALB): -5.9%
Shares fell after Bank of America revised down its lithium price outlook, citing persistent surplus conditions in the market over the next two years.
MarketAxess Holdings (MKTX): -5.5%
Despite a 56% year-over-year growth in average daily trading volume for November, the electronic trading platform reported a 3% sequential decline, with reduced volumes in U.S. high-grade and high-yield segments.
Sector Highlights
Technology: Continued its rally, with notable contributions from Salesforce and ServiceNow. AI-related developments remain a key growth driver.
Consumer Staples: Underperformed due to Campbell’s disappointing earnings and CEO transition news.
Energy: Texas Pacific Land’s drop weighed on the sector, despite steady oil prices.
Conclusion
U.S. markets extended their recent gains, supported by strong earnings reports and optimism around future Fed rate cuts. Tech stocks dominated as innovations in AI and software partnerships drove investor interest. However, challenges persisted in consumer staples and energy-related sectors, with notable underperformers such as Campbell’s and Texas Pacific Land dragging on broader indices.
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