Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Stock

S&P 500 hits all-time high, surpassing previous record set in 2022

The S&P 500 closed at an all-time high on Friday as investors returned to buying equities in force following a short-lived market stumble to start the new year.

The broad market index rose 1.23% to settle at 4,839.81, surpassing both the prior record intraday and closing highs from January 2022. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which set its own record at the end of last year, added 395.19 points, or 1.05%, to end at 37,863.80. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.70% to 15,310.97. The smaller, more tech-focused Nasdaq-100 gained 1.95% to also hit a record high.

All three major averages are now in positive territory for 2024, with the 30-stock Dow going green during Friday’s rally.

Following a 19% loss in 2022, the S&P 500 roared back in 2023, posting a 24% gain as the economy skirted a recession that many had expected and inflation came down to levels that allowed the Federal Reserve to pause its interest rate hikes. The benchmark came close to reaching a record following a forceful fourth-quarter rally, but ultimately fell short. The market rally paused a bit to start 2024 as investors took some profits in the Big Tech leaders like Apple.

But they returned to buying those tech leaders in recent days. Friday’s milestone confirms that the stock market is officially in a bull market that began in October 2022, and not just a bounce within a bear market. The S&P 500 is up more than 35% since that low.

“In the mind of the investor, [companies] leading in AI or having a product set that’s differentiated in the tech space are very, very strongly leading the market. That’s been a wave that’s persisted throughout the remainder of last year and into 2024,” said Matt Stucky, chief portfolio manager at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management.

The tech sector gained 2.35% on Friday and more than 4% during the trading week, making it the S&P 500′s best-performing sector week to date.

Whether the broader market index can maintain its growth momentum in 2024 “is going to be a question of whether the Fed is able to stick a soft landing or not,” said Stucky. He noted that the driver of the S&P 500′s growth in 2023 was tied to multiples, rather than earnings.

“Multiples rise coming out of economic slowdowns, because investors are pricing in a recovery. If that recovery doesn’t materialize, then you do have to question the sustainability of not only holding on to new highs, but making new highs beyond that,” Stucky added.

Fresh consumer data on Friday indicated that consumers are becoming more confident on the economy and inflation. The University of Michigan’s Survey of Consumers showed a 21.4% year-over-year jump to reach its highest level since July 2021.

Insurance company Travelers rose 6.7% after posting an earnings beat. Schlumberger gained 2.2% after beating on top and bottom lines, and Ally Financial surged over 10% after reporting strong quarterly results and a sale of a business unit to Synchrony Financial.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

World biggest companies

Learn Trading With Online Courses, Classes, & Lessons

You May Also Like

Investing

2023 was a relatively lackluster year, silver largely traded on volatility between US$22 and US$25 per ounce. The white metal started 2024 with less...

Latest News

Dong’s experience, both as head of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as well as operational assignments in the Chinese military’s Eastern and Southern...

Investing

The US was one of the world’s top silver producers in 2023, recording output of 1,000 metric tons (MT). While that’s far below first-place...

Investing

The Canadian pharmaceutical market is the eighth largest in the world and accounts for 2.2 percent of the global prescription drug market. But what...

Disclaimer: GreatWallStreetPublisher.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.


Copyright © 2024 GreatWallStreetPublisher.com