Market news
22.02.2024, 12:41

Stock Market Today: Dow Jones underperforms, tech rally lifts Nasdaq futures

  • Nasdaq futures post impressive gains as tech stocks rally.
  • US economic docket will feature PMI and weekly Jobless Claims data.
  • Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) shares are up more than 10% in premarket trading.

Major equity indexes in the US remain on track to open in positive territory following Wednesday's indecisive action. The rally seen in technology shares in premarket trading points to a big jump in tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, while Dow Jones' upside remains limited.

S&P 500 futures rise 1.25%, Dow Jones futures climb 0.37%, and Nasdaq futures gain 2.03%.

S&P 500 (SPX), Dow Jones (DJIA), and Nasdaq (IXIC) indexes closed on Wednesday with a 0.13% gain, a 0.13% increase, and a 0.32% fall, respectively.

What to know before stock market opens

  • The Technology Sector was the worst-performing major S&P sector and the only one to end in the red on Wednesday, losing over 0.76% on the day. The Energy Sector took the top spot and ended the day up nearly 1.9%.
  • EQT Corp (EQT) saw a late break to become the day's top performer on Wednesday, gaining 10.58% and hitting the closing bell at $37.30. On the other hand, Palo Alto Networks Inc. (PAN) shares lost more than 28% to close just below $262.00.
  • Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) shares are up nearly 14% in premarket trading after the chipmaker reported that earnings per share topped $5.16 versus the $4.64 forecast, and revenue climbed to $22.10 billion compared to the expected $20.62 billion. The company also said that it forecasts the current-quarter revenue of $24 billion, plus or minus 2%. 
  • Read more: Nvidia Stock Earnings: NVDA Q4 results trounce consensus.
  • Mizuho has raised the target price for Nvidia stock to $850 from $825, HSBC lifted its target to $880 from $835 and Citigroup revised its expectation to $820 from $575.
  • S&P Global will publish the preliminary US Manufacturing and Services PMI reports for February on Thursday. The US economic docket will also feature the weekly Initial Jobless Claims data.
  • The Federal Reserve (Fed) said in the Minutes of the January policy meeting that most policymakers noted the risks associated with moving too quickly to ease the policy. Furthermore, the publication showed that officials highlighted uncertainty around how long the restrictive policy stance would be needed.
  • Read more: Fed Minutes suggest rates are at their peak.
  • Retailer giant Walmart Inc. (WMT) reported an adjusted earning per share of $1.8 ahead of the opening bell on Tuesday. The company said that it expects consolidated net sales to rise in the range of 3%-4% and announced that it will buy smart-TV producer Vizio (VZIO) for about $2.3 billion.
  • Home Depot Inc. (HD) said net income in Q4 was $2.8 billion, and the adjusted earnings per share was $2.82. The company, however, said that it projects sales for the fiscal year 2024 to be below estimates, citing slowing demand for discretionary items such as flooring, furniture and kitchen, per Reuters.

Dow Jones FAQs

What is the Dow Jones?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, one of the oldest stock market indices in the world, is compiled of the 30 most traded stocks in the US. The index is price-weighted rather than weighted by capitalization. It is calculated by summing the prices of the constituent stocks and dividing them by a factor, currently 0.152. The index was founded by Charles Dow, who also founded the Wall Street Journal. In later years it has been criticized for not being broadly representative enough because it only tracks 30 conglomerates, unlike broader indices such as the S&P 500.

What factors impact the Dow Jones Industrial Average?

Many different factors drive the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). The aggregate performance of the component companies revealed in quarterly company earnings reports is the main one. US and global macroeconomic data also contributes as it impacts on investor sentiment. The level of interest rates, set by the Federal Reserve (Fed), also influences the DJIA as it affects the cost of credit, on which many corporations are heavily reliant. Therefore, inflation can be a major driver as well as other metrics which impact the Fed decisions.

What is Dow Theory?

Dow Theory is a method for identifying the primary trend of the stock market developed by Charles Dow. A key step is to compare the direction of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and the Dow Jones Transportation Average (DJTA) and only follow trends where both are moving in the same direction. Volume is a confirmatory criteria. The theory uses elements of peak and trough analysis. Dow’s theory posits three trend phases: accumulation, when smart money starts buying or selling; public participation, when the wider public joins in; and distribution, when the smart money exits.

How can I trade the DJIA?

There are a number of ways to trade the DJIA. One is to use ETFs which allow investors to trade the DJIA as a single security, rather than having to buy shares in all 30 constituent companies. A leading example is the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA). DJIA futures contracts enable traders to speculate on the future value of the index and Options provide the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the index at a predetermined price in the future. Mutual funds enable investors to buy a share of a diversified portfolio of DJIA stocks thus providing exposure to the overall index.

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