Stock markets in the U.S. relax after momentary tension
Financial speculations on decreasing interest rates have temporarily halted stock trading on Wall Street, as this theme isn't currently driving major moves. Stocks like Adobe have been surging, while cruise line stocks have been taking a hit.
The US markets took a step back towards the end of the week due to inflation concerns. By Friday, the Dow Jones Index of Industrial Average dropped 0.1%, closing at 38,589 points. The tech-savvy Nasdaq managed a 0.1% gain, reaching 17,688 points. The broad-based S&P 500 saw minimal change at 5431. Investors largely opted for holding cash, according to traders, due to uncertainty surrounding future interest rates. Thomas Martin, portfolio manager at Globalt Asset Management, noted, "We've reached an all-time high and are just taking a breather to adjust to the new interest rate cut scenario."
In spite of recent indications of interest rate cuts, the US Federal Reserve is only contemplating a reduction this year. Initially, in March, it had planned for three cuts. The exact timing remains uncertain. Many investors are hoping for monetary easing in September. Ross Mayfield, strategist at Baird, stated, "The market is also pricing in a likelihood, albeit a small one, of a recession in the second half of the year, in which the Fed would have to significantly cut rates."
However, consumer sentiment took a nosedive unexpectedly. The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment dropped to 65.6 in June, far below predictions.
The US dollar benefited from increased demand for safety, with the Dollar Index rising 0.3% to 105.55 points. The Euro lost 0.4% to 1.07 dollars. European investors were worried that France could shift politically to the right in the upcoming elections, potentially triggering a financial crisis.
Analysts are bullish on Adobe
Adobe stocks jumped more than 14% after the makers of photo editing software raised their revenue predictions for the year due to the increased demand for their AI-based software. JPMorgan analysts upgraded the stock from "neutral" to "overweight," viewing potential in the shares and positive tailwinds for the company thanks to its products and pricing.
Sirius papers were replaced in the Nasdaq 100 index by Arm Holdings. Sirius stocks quickly recovered from initial losses, while Arm's stocks stumbled.
Plummeting prices impacted cruise line stocks. Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line stocks dropped more than 7%, Royal Caribbean Group fell 4.3%, and Viking Holdings dipped 6.4%. According to BofA Global Research analysts, cruise prices were slightly lower at the beginning of June compared to the beginning of May. Forty percent of routes had lower prices compared to 33% in the previous month.
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