FactSet Evening Market Recap

US equities finished mostly lower in Thursday trading, though ended off worst levels. The S&P broke a three-session string of gains (though remains higher WTD). Big tech was mostly weaker with AAPL the notable decliner; software, semis were both somewhat lower overall.

U.S. equities closed modestly higher Wednesday but finished off best levels, with gains led by select mega-cap tech (AMZN, NVDA) while defensives lagged. Oil and precious metals moved sharply higher alongside a stronger dollar and slightly higher Treasury yields amid geopolitical headlines, firmer economic data, and a modestly hawkish tilt in the FOMC minutes. Earnings were mixed, with notable moves in ADI and CDNS on the upside and PANW on the downside, as focus shifts to WMT Thursday and a potential SCOTUS tariff ruling Friday.

US equities finished mostly higher in Tuesday trading, a bit off best levels. There was not much new from a narrative standpoint, but it was another day with a lot more going on beneath the surface. Corporate updates largely underwhelmed, though there was a pickup in M&A and activist developments.

US equities were lower this week with the S&P 500 down for a second-straight week, Nasdaq Composite for a fifth-straight week, and the small-cap Russell 2000 down for the third week in the past four. Software saw a fairly tepid bounce from its recent plunge and elevated volatility amid ongoing AI displacement fears. This week also saw spillover of the AI displacement narrative into other industries, including asset managers, wealth management, trucking, logistics, and commercial real estate.

It was a risk off trading day, with AI increasingly a broader market headwind. The Vix spent some time back above 20 today amid continued underperformance from the Magnificent 7 as investors scrutinize capex and shift from asset-light to asset-heavy names. The unrelenting disruption trade continued, and while software remains ground zero, the disruption has spread to CRE brokers, trucking/logistics, and a number of other areas, often without any incremental headlines or justifications.

US equities finished slightly lower after early strength faded, with large technology stocks under pressure while memory and semiconductor stocks outperformed and software weakened again on artificial intelligence disruption concerns. The January jobs report surprised to the upside. Earnings remained a major driver, with more than two-thirds of the Standard and Poor’s five hundred having reported.

US equities were mixed in Tuesday trading though stocks ended just off worst levels. Stocks were unable to hold onto earlier gains, as the market tilted defensive and rates rallied amid White House efforts to talk down Wednesday's NFP, soft December retail sales, and the latest geopolitical concerns. Financial advisory was the latest group hit by AI competition concerns, though software continued to claw back some of its recent losses.

US equities were higher in Monday trading, though stocks ended off best levels. Stocks rebounded on the back of tech outperformance. Nothing on the US economic calendar today, but a bit of Fedspeak

Major US equity indices were mixed for the week. AI disruption weighed heavily on software this week. December JOLTS lowest since Sep-20. Q4 earnings growth now running at nearly +13% y/y for S&P 500% (with ~60% reported).

U.S. equities sold off Thursday and finished near the lows, led by weakness in big tech as software again underperformed while semiconductors held up better. Soft labor-market data drove a rally in Treasuries and cooled the recent broadening-out rotation, while the dollar strengthened and risk assets like crypto and commodities were pressured.

US equities finished mixed in Wednesday afternoon trading. Many cyclical pockets rallied as the broadening-out trade continued to gain momentum.

US equities were lower in Tuesday trading, though ended off worst levels. Tech weakness the big story despite big post-earnings rallies. End of partial government shutdown , White House affordability push, geopolitical tensions also in the headlines today.

US equities finished higher in Monday trading, ending not far from best levels. AI sentiment solidified today after some cautious weekend headlines. In macro news, January’s ISM manufacturing of 52.6 fell back into expansion territory against consensus for 48.9, its highest since August 2022

US equities were mostly lower this week. It was an extremely volatile week for metals, as gold climbed further into record territory before dropping sharply on Friday, and silver spent much of the week above $100/oz but saw a huge Friday drawdown. President Trump finally named his pick to succeed Powell as Fed chair, tapping former Fed governor Kevin Warsh.

It was a busy day with a lot of moving pieces and volatility. Tech was under pressure on underwhelming Azure growth from Microsoft and the AI competition narrative was overhang on software. There was a reversal in precious metals following another meaningful run-up earlier in the session with talks of an unwind of very crowded longs.

U.S. equities were mixed Wednesday, with the S&P 500 pulling back after briefly topping 7,000 as markets remained in a wait-and-see mode ahead of major technology earnings. Rates edged higher, the dollar stabilized after recent weakness, and precious metals continued to rally. The FOMC held at 3.50-3.75%, as expected, with two dovish dissents.

US equities were mostly higher in Tuesday trading, ended a bit off best levels. Growth/momentum/tech outperformance the big story today while small caps lagged again following a big run through last last week.

US equities were mostly higher in Monday trading. Stocks were higher though there was no shortage of headline volatility to start the week. On the economic calendar, preliminary November durable-goods orders rose 5.3% month over month on the headline, ahead of Street expectations for 3-4% and more than reversing October's 2.2% decline.

US equities were narrowly mixed this week with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq slightly lower for a second-straight weekly decline. Geopolitics and Greenland were the biggest focus this week. Late in the week, the focus shifted back to Iran after Trump revived threats to use military force against Iranian leadership amid a crackdown on protests.

US equities finished higher in Thursday trading, though ended off midday highs. Stocks extended Wednesday's TACO-trade gains after Trump softened stance on Greenland and as more details around NATO deal emerge. Weekly initial jobless claims printed at 200K