U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday, with equities stabilizing after a four-session skid for the Dow industrials and as financial shares rallied on a positive rate outlook.
What are stocks doing?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average
rose 72 points, or 0.3%, to 22,357. The S&P 500
was up 10 points to 2,507, a gain of 0.4%. The Nasdaq Composite Index
was up 42 points, or 0.7%, to 6,423.
The day’s gains were broad, with eight of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors higher on the day. Financials were particularly strong, up 1.1%. Among the biggest gainers on the day, Bank of America
was up 1.8% while Citigroup
added 1.7%. Wells Fargo & Co
was up 1.2%.
The Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF
rose 1% and hit its highest level in nearly a decade.
What are market participants saying?
“There’s nothing really on the worry front, as far as markets go. Valuations are fair to full, but they’re being supported by earnings, so we’re not concerned about that as it stands right now,” said Paul Springmeyer, investment managing director at U.S. Bancorp, which has $148 billion in assets under advisement.
What’s driving the market?
Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said the central bank won’t dawdle while raising interest rates. The news was positive for banks, which typically do better in periods of higher rates, do to the positive impact they have on net interest margins.
Read: Why the Fed trumps North Korea when it comes to financial markets
What are investors watching out for today?
According to the Wall Street Journal, a plan to overhaul the U.S. tax code looks to sharply reduce tax rates on businesses and many individuals. One of the reasons markets have risen throughout 2017 is the prospect of tax reform passing, which is expected to be a tailwind for markets. However, the Republican Party was unable to pass health-care reform despite several attempts and versions, and it is unclear how likely it was that tax-reform could be passed.
”Springmeyer said “any improvement would be a benefit for markets, we see more upside in the event it passes, and less downside in the event it doesn’t.”
Read more: Wilbur Ross says tax reform could boost economy by 1%
And see: GOP tax plan to allow for top individual rate above 35%
Which stocks are in focus?
Nike Inc.
fell 4% after the sneakers giant late Tuesday posted fiscal first-quarter earnings that beat forecasts, but its revenue was slightly below expectations.
Shares in Micron Technology Inc.
rose 7.9% a day after the chip maker reported better-than-expected earnings.
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
was ordered pay more than $4 billion in damages for mismanaging the estate of a former executive for American Airlines
Shares of the investment bank rose 1.4%.
Therapix Biosciences Ltd.
jumped 7.4% following positive preclinical results for a potential cognitive impairment therapy.
See: Micron reassures investors that memory-chip demand remains very high
What are other assets doing?
was gaining, building on Tuesday’s rise
lost ground, while oil futures
were little changed.
rose, and Asian markets closed mixed.
Don’t miss: The stock sector that has been 2017’s big loser became a big winner this month
Read: Here’s why value stocks are starting to outperform growth
What are the data?
Orders for durable goods rose 1.7% in August, beating forecasts for a 1% rise.
The National Association of Realtors’ pending home sales index fell 2.6% to 106.3, the group said Wednesday. That was the lowest reading since January 2016 and put the index 2.6% lower than its level a year ago.
Check out: MarketWatch’s Economic Calendar
Which Fed speakers are on tap Wednesday?
- At 1:30 p.m. Eastern, St. Louis Fed President James Bullard is on tap to speak at Missouri’s Truman State University
- At 2 p.m. Eastern, Fed Gov. Lael Brainard is scheduled to take part in a Kansas City Fed forum
- At 7 p.m. Eastern, Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren is slated to talk at New York University
