Photo by US stocks surged on Friday, fueled by a tech rally that propelled the Nasdaq to a record high and the S&P 500 above 5,100 for the first time.
Tech Rally Drives Record Highs
The Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.14% on Friday, building on its recent record-setting momentum. This surge was primarily attributed to the ongoing AI frenzy, with stocks like Nvidia soaring by 70% since the beginning of the year. Dell Technologies also saw a remarkable 31% spike to an all-time high following positive AI-related business updates.
Tech stocks driving the market to new heights
Federal Reserve Insights
Investors closely monitored comments from Federal Reserve officials to gauge the trajectory of interest rates. Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic expressed caution, emphasizing the importance of waiting for inflation to subside before considering rate hikes. “I don’t want to have to raise rates again,” Bostic stated, highlighting the Fed’s commitment to achieving its 2% inflation target.
Fed Governor Adriana Kugler echoed a similar sentiment, expressing optimism about ongoing disinflation alongside a resilient labor market. These insights provided valuable guidance to market participants navigating uncertain economic conditions.
Market Indexes Performance
At the close of trading on Friday, major US indexes stood as follows:
- S&P 500: 5,137.09, up 0.8%
- Dow Jones Industrial Average: 39,087.38, up 0.23% (+90.99 points)
- Nasdaq Composite: 16,274.94, up 1.14%
Economic Indicators and Insights
Amidst the market rally, several key economic indicators and insights emerged:
- The US is witnessing a rapid increase in national debt, with $1 trillion added every 100 days, according to Bank of America.
- China remains the sole major economy grappling with deflation, highlighting global economic disparities.
- Analysts predict that the Fed is unlikely to cut rates in 2024, citing ten compelling reasons supporting this forecast.
- Eli Lilly’s stock is projected to surge by 29% over the next year, driven by the success of its weight-loss drug.
- While the US housing market shows signs of recovery, Fitch reports that 91% of homes remain overvalued, posing challenges for prospective buyers.
- Criminals have exploited “pig-butchering” scams to steal $75 billion in cryptocurrency, underscoring the risks in the digital asset space.
- Despite the promise of AI-driven productivity gains, concerns persist about the potential for a future recession.
Commodity and Crypto Update
In the commodities and crypto markets:
- Oil prices saw an uptick, with West Texas Intermediate rising by 2% to $79.80 a barrel.
- Gold prices edged up by 1.85% to $2,092.80 per ounce.
- The 10-year Treasury yield decreased by six basis points to 4.184%.
- Bitcoin experienced a 0.77% increase, reaching $62,597.75.
As US stocks hit new highs driven by tech exuberance and Fed insights, the market continues to navigate a complex economic landscape with a mix of optimism and caution.
