Markets News, October 2, 2024: Major Indexes Inch Higher as Stock Market Steadies After Selloff

 Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on August 14, 2024 in New York City.

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Major U.S. indexes closed slightly higher Wednesday, led by a recovery in chip stocks, as investors ke﷽pt a close ey𝕴e on developments in the Middle East and prepared for key labor market data releases in the coming days.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite each added 0.1%, while the S&P 500 rose fractionally. Stocks fell sharply on Tuesday, retreating from record high levels that had been reached in late S🔥eptember amid optimism a💧bout the health of the U.S. economy and expectations that the Federal Reserve will continue cutting interest rates.

AI chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA) rose 1.6% Wednesday, leading broader gains for chip stocks, as the VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) added 1.4% following a steep decline yesterday. Among other large-cap tech stocks, Apple (AAPL) finished slightly higher while Microsoft (MSFT), Meta Platforms (META), Amazon (AMZN) and Alphabet (GOOGL) lost ground.

Among the big movers Wednesday, Tesla (TSLA) fell 3.5% after the electric vehicle maker reported quarterly delivery numbers that fell short of the most optimistic Wall Street expectations. Nike (NKE) shares were down 6.8% after the company late Tuesday 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:withdrew its full-year outlook and said it plans to postpone its upcoming investor day ahead of the company’s transition to 🎃a n♓ew CEO later this month.

Cruꦉde oil futures gained nearly 2%, extending a rally that started Tuesday following news that Iran had launched a barrage of missiles into Israel, spurring concerns about possible supply disruptions.

The economic data calendar was light on Wednesday, ahead of a handful of indicators tomorrow and the highly anticipated release on Friday of the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:September jobs report. Investors are keeping a close eye on the data releases, as well as comments from Fed officials who are scheduled to speak, for indications of 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:how🃏 aggressive the central bank will be in cutting interest rates. The𝔉 Fe🌠d cut its benchmark lending rate last month for the first time in four years.

One big new variable that could affect the outlook for inflation and the labor market—the two areas the Fed monitors most closely—is the port strike that kicked off on Tuesday. The work stoppage affects 14 ports stretching from Maine to Texas that handle about two-thirds of U.S. imports, and could have a wide-ranging and damaging 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:impact on the economy.

Gold f🅰utures were down𝄹 slightly to around $2,680 after rising in the previous session to near-record-high levels. Bitcoin was up slightly to around $60,500.

Biggest S&P 500 Movers on Wednesday

October 02, 2024 06:09 PM EDT

Advancers

Decliners

  • Humana (HUM) shares plunged 11.8%, more than any other S&P 500 stock on Wednesday, after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:downgradꦑed a significant percentage of the insurer's Medicare offerings. The star ratings issued by the CMS could have an impact on Humana's revenue, as insurers receive bonus payments when they offer higher-rated plans. The company suggested that there could be flaws in the system for determining ratings.
  • Shares of Conagra Brands (CAG) dropped 8.1% after the food maker reported 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:l🔯ower-than-expected sales and profits for its fiscal first quarter. The maker of Healthy Choice frozen meals and Hunt's ketchup cited a difficult operating environment amid restrained consumer spending. Conagra's organic organic net sales and gross profit declined from a year ago, while corporate expenses surged more than 150%, driven by increased incentive compensation.
LeBron James #6 of the USA Men's National Team warms up during practice at Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France.
Lebron James, wearing Nike gear, ahead of a practice of the USA Men's National Basketball Team in Paris on July 30, 2024.

Jim Poorten / NBAE / Getty Images

  • Nike (NKE) reported mixed quarterly results late Tuesday, topping net income forecasts but falling short on revenue. However, the footwear and athletic apparel maker 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:did not offer full-year guidance on its earnings call, and its shares fell 6.8%. Nike is in the midst of a leadership transition, with Elliott Hill 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:set to take over as chief executive officer in mid-October, and the company said the withdrawal of its annual forecasts will give Hill more time in the new role. The sneaker maker also said it would postpone its investor day, which was originally scheduled for Nov. 19.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Michael Bromberg

Chinese Stocks Extend Rally With More Big Gains

October 02, 2024 05:33 PM EDT

The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China index (HXC)—an index of 64 China-based companies traded in the U.S—gained almost 5% Wednesday as the rally in Chinese ඣstocks shows no signs of abating.

Chinese stocks have surged since early last week following news that authorities were implementing a w꧒ide-ranging stimulus plan.

The iShares MSCI China ETF (MCHI) added nearly 7% on Wednesday and has gained 30% since the close of trading on Sept. 23, just before the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:first batch of stimulus measures were unveiled.

MCHI price chart since July

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Caesars Jumps on Stock Buyback, Debt Sale News

October 02, 2024 03:53 PM EDT

Caesars Entertainment (CZR) shares jumped Wednesday after the hotel and casino operator announced a big new 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:stock buyback, along with a bond offering to pay off older 🌄🐎debt.

The company wrote in a regulatory filing that the board had approved a $500 million share repurchase program after the expiration of the previous $150 mi🐷llion one, which was begun in 2018. Caesars noted that after buying back 3.87 million shares in its 2024 fiscal third quarter, no more of that allocated money remained.

Caesars also said it plans to sell $1 billion worth of 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:senior notes due in 2032. The company explained that the money raised would be used to “redeem or repurchase ... a portion of the Company’s existing 8.125% Senior Notes due 2027 and to pay fees and expense💝s in connection with the of💝fering.”

Caesars Palace hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 28, 2023

Bridget Bennett / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Caesars shares wer💧e up nearly 5% about 10 minutes before the closing bell, after rising as much as 7.8% to its highest point since early April🗹. Despite the gain Wednesday, the stock is still down about 10% in 2024.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Bill McColl

Humana Shares Plunge to Lowest Level Since 2020

October 02, 2024 02:23 PM EDT

Shares of health insurance provider Humana (HUM) 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:plunged to a four-year low after a large share of its Medicare offerings were downgraded by the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Centers for Medicare and Med💜icaid Services (CMS).

Roughly 25% of Humana members, about 1.6 million people, are currently enrolled in plans that have a 4-star or higher 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Medicare Advantage rating for 2025, according to prelꦏiminary data—a massive drop from 94% 𝓡in 2024. 

Humana could take a substantial revenue hit if the preliminary data stands when CMS releases its official ratings later this month, as higher star ratings generate bonus payments for the insurers that𓆏 offer them.

The company said it is "disappointed" with its performance and suggested there may be errors in the way the ratings were calculated. CMS star ratings review plan performance once a year on factors such as the number of annual screenings and preventive services offered, how long it takes to get an appointment, and complaint levels. 

Shares were down more than 12% in recent tradi🌠ng, aft💙er falling as much as 24% earlier Wednesday.

Humana share price chart last five years

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-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Andrew Kessel

Tesla Tumbles as Deliveries Fail to Impress

October 02, 2024 11:11 AM EDT

Tesla (TSLA) 🗹shares fell Wednesday morning af﷽ter the electric vehicle maker reported quarterly delivery numbers that came in slightly higher than analysts had expected.

Tesla delivered 462,89ꩲ0 vehicles in the third quarter and said it produced 469,796 vehicles in the quarter. Those figures are up from 435,059 deliveries and production of 4🌺30,488 vehicles in the third quarter a year ago.

Analysts had expected roughly 461,000 deliveries and production of just under 450,000 vehicles, according to estimates compiled by Visible Alpha. Wedbush analysts said the figures were "a step in the right direction," but added the stock could be pressured as investors may have expected more.

Deliveries 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:fell year-over-year in the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:first two quarters of the year, leading 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Tesla stock to sink over the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:first half of the year, before 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:recovering in recent months. Analysts from Deutsche Bank and Wedbush said in the week leading up to Wednesday's announcement that investors' focus will likely be more on 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:next week⛎'s planned "robotaxi" unveiling rather than the delivery data.

The EV maker also announced Wednesday that its full third-quarter results will be released after the market closes Oct. 𓂃23.

Tesla stock price chart YTD

Tesꦕla shares were down nearly 5% in recent trading, slipping b𒀰ack into negative territory for the year to date.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Aaron McDade

Nike Tumbles as Company Withdraws Outlook

October 02, 2024 09:00 AM EDT

Nike (NKE) shares moved sharply lower in premarket trading Wednesday after the apparel and equipment giant 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:withdrew its full-year outlook an♑d said it plans to postpone its upcoming investor day ahead of the company’s tr🐻ansition to a new CEO later this month.

The stock has rallied more than 25% from the lower trendline o♐f a falling wedge, though Wednesday’s projected earnings-driven selling threatens to derail the recent bullish price momentum.

Shares were do🧜wn 7.3% at $82.67 about half an hour before the opening bell Wednesday.

Source: TradingView.com.

Investors should monitor key lower price levels on Nike's weekly chart around $85 and $79, while watching important higher price levels near $96 and $104.

Read the full 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:technical analysis piece here.

-澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Timothy Smith

Futures Point to Lower Open for Major Indexes

October 02, 2024 08:25 AM EDT

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Avᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ𒁃erage were down 0.2%.

DJIA stock futures - Oct. 2, 2024

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S&P 500 futures were down 0.3%.

S&P 500 futures - Oct. 2, 2024

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Nasdaq 100 futures were also off 0.3%.

Nasdaq 100 futures - Oct. 2, 2024

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