On Tuesday, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite closed the session with modest gains as investors eagerly awaited the release of key inflation data later in the week. The S&P 500 saw a slight increase of 0.17%, closing at 5,078.18, while the Nasdaq added 0.37% to end at 16,035.30. Conversely, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a decline of 0.25%, falling 96.82 points to close at 38,972.41.
Retail giant Macy’s saw an increase of 3.4% after revealing plans to close approximately 150 underperforming stores following a revenue miss in the previous quarter. Similarly, Lowe’s experienced a 1.7% gain after surpassing expectations with its earnings report. In addition, Zoom Video and Hims & Hers Health witnessed substantial increases of 8% and 31%, respectively, after their earnings reports exceeded Wall Street’s forecasts.
According to Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research, the market on Tuesday lacked a clear direction. He mentioned that different sectors were “each marching to the beat of their own drummer.” The utilities sector outperformed the broader market with a 1.9% rise, while communications services and the technology sector also experienced gains of 1% and less than 0.1%, respectively. This follows a previous day of losses that drove the Dow and S&P 500 away from the record highs achieved last week due to Nvidia’s outstanding earnings report.
Stovall highlighted that certain sectors such as tech, consumer discretionary, communication services, and financial stocks tend to perform well in an interest rate pause period. He explained that these sectors are where the growth lies, and investors are hesitant to diversify into mid- and small-cap stocks until the Federal Reserve starts cutting interest rates. The latest consumer confidence numbers revealed concerns about a potential labor market slowdown and a polarized political environment, contributing to a decline in the Consumer Confidence Index to 106.7, below expectations.
Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce showed a larger-than-anticipated decrease in orders for durable goods in January, primarily due to a significant drop in transportation demand. With the release of January’s personal consumption expenditure price index and personal income data scheduled for Thursday, investors are eagerly awaiting these figures for insights into the economy’s health and clues about future monetary policy decisions. Stovall likened the current situation in the market to watching a ping-pong ball drop on a table, illustrating the uncertainty and volatility facing investors in the current climate.