The stock market had a volatile start to the new year, as investors grappled with the implications of the Federal Reserve’s policy stance, the earnings season, the geopolitical tensions, and the coronavirus pandemic. Here are some of the key takeaways from the month:
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| – The S&P 500 ended the month with a gain of 1.2%, recovering from a sharp sell-off in the last week of January. |
| – The Nasdaq Composite outperformed the other major indices, rising 2.8% in January, boosted by strong earnings from Big Tech companies. |
| – The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged behind, dropping 0.2% in the month, weighed down by losses in energy, financial, and industrial stocks. |
| – The Fed kept its benchmark interest rate near zero and maintained its $120 billion monthly bond-buying program, but signaled that it could start tapering its asset purchases later this year. |
| – The earnings season was mixed, with some companies beating expectations and others disappointing. The sectors that performed well included technology, health care, and consumer discretionary. The sectors that struggled included energy, materials, and utilities. |
| – The geopolitical situation was tense, as the US and Russia clashed over Ukraine, Iran resumed its nuclear activities, and China and Taiwan exchanged military threats. |
| – The coronavirus pandemic continued to pose challenges, as the Omicron variant spread rapidly, causing new lockdowns and travel restrictions in some countries. However, the vaccine rollout also accelerated, and some studies suggested that Omicron was less severe than previous variants. |
The Market Movements
The stock market began the year on a positive note, as investors welcomed the passage of the $1.9 trillion infrastructure bill and the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better plan in the US Congress. The market also cheered the news that the Omicron variant was less deadly than feared and that the vaccine booster shots were effective against it. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite reached new record highs in the first week of January, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average came close to its all-time high.
However, the market sentiment turned sour in the second week of January, as the Fed released the minutes of its December meeting, which showed that the central bank was considering a faster pace of tapering its bond-buying program and a sooner-than-expected rate hike. The market also faced pressure from rising inflation, which hit a 40-year high of 7% in December, and from disappointing retail sales data, which fell 1.9% in December. The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered their worst weekly losses since September, while the Nasdaq Composite had its worst week since October.
The market volatility continued in the third week of January, as investors digested a slew of earnings reports from major companies. The market also reacted to the escalating tensions between the US and Russia over Ukraine, as President Biden warned of severe consequences if Russia invaded its neighbor, and President Putin demanded guarantees that NATO would not expand eastward. The market also faced headwinds from the surge in Omicron cases, which led to new lockdowns and travel bans in some countries, such as France, Germany, and Canada. The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell for the third consecutive week, while the Nasdaq Composite managed to eke out a small gain.
The market rebounded in the last week of January, as investors focused on the positive aspects of the earnings season, the Fed’s policy decision, and the coronavirus situation. The market was boosted by strong earnings from Big Tech companies, such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, which beat expectations and lifted their share prices.
The market also welcomed the Fed’s announcement that it would keep its interest rate near zero and maintain its bond-buying program until March but also signaled that it could start raising rates in March and end its asset purchases by April. The market also shrugged off the rising Omicron cases, as some studies suggested that the variant was less severe and that the peak of the wave was near. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite had their best week in months, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average also recovered some of its losses.
Source :
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(2) Stock market today: Stocks rebound after worst day of 2024 ahead of Big Tech earnings bonanza. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/stock-market-today-stocks-rebound-after-worst-day-of-2024-ahead-of-big-tech-earnings-bonanza-165314275.html.
(3) Stock market today: Wall Street rebounds to its best day in weeks, led by Big Tech. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/stock-market-today-asian-stocks-are-mixed-after-wall-street-slips-to-its-worst-loss-in-4-months/ar-BB1hAHJ1.
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The Sector Performances
The stock market performance in January 2024 was uneven across different sectors, as some sectors benefited from the earnings season, the Fed’s policy stance, and the coronavirus situation, while others suffered. Here are some of the sector highlights from the month:
- Technology: The technology sector was the best-performing sector in January, rising 4.2% in the month, as it was boosted by strong earnings from Big Tech companies, such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta. These companies reported impressive revenue and profit growth, driven by their cloud, e-commerce, social media, and hardware businesses. The technology sector also benefited from the Fed’s dovish tone, which supported the growth-oriented stocks.
- Health Care: The health care sector was the second-best performing sector in January, gaining 3.1% in the month, as it was supported by solid earnings from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, such as Pfizer, Merck, and Moderna. These companies reported robust sales and earnings, fueled by their vaccine and drug portfolios. The healthcare sector also gained from the coronavirus situation, as the demand for vaccines, treatments, and testing remained high.
- Consumer Discretionary: The consumer discretionary sector was the third-best performing sector in January, advancing 2.9% in the month, as it was lifted by positive earnings from online retailers, streaming services, and home improvement companies, such as Shopify, Netflix, and Home Depot. These companies reported strong revenue and profit growth, reflecting the shift in consumer behavior and preferences amid the pandemic. The consumer discretionary sector also enjoyed the stimulus effect from the infrastructure and social spending bills passed by the US Congress.
- Energy: The energy sector was the worst-performing sector in January, plunging 7.8% in the month, as it was dragged down by weak earnings from oil and gas companies, such as Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and BP. These companies reported lower revenue and profit, due to the decline in oil and gas prices, which were affected by the oversupply and the lower demand amid the Omicron wave. The energy sector also faced regulatory and environmental challenges, as the US and other countries pledged to reduce their carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy sources.
- Materials: The materials sector was the second-worst performing sector in January, dropping 5.2% in the month, as it was hurt by poor earnings from mining and chemical companies, such as BHP, Rio Tinto, and Dow. These companies reported lower revenue and profit, due to the fall in commodity prices, which were influenced by the slowdown in global economic activity and the trade tensions between the US and China. The materials sector also suffered from inflationary pressures, which increased the cost of production and transportation.
- Utilities: The utilities sector was the third-worst performing sector in January, falling 4.1% in the month, as it was hampered by disappointing earnings from electric and gas utilities, such as Duke Energy, Southern Company, and PG&E. These companies reported lower revenue and profit, due to the lower demand for electricity and gas, which were impacted by the mild winter weather and the energy efficiency measures. The utilities sector also struggled with the rising interest rates, which reduced the attractiveness of their dividend yields.
The Outlook for February 2024
The stock market outlook for February 2024 is uncertain, as investors will have to balance the positive and negative factors that could affect the market performance. Here are some of the factors that could influence the market in the next month:
- The Fed’s Policy: The Fed’s policy will be a key driver of the market in February, as investors will look for clues on the timing and pace of the Fed’s rate hikes and tapering. The Fed is expected to raise its interest rate by 0.25% in March and end its bond-buying program by April, but the market will also watch for any changes in the Fed’s projections and guidance, based on the latest economic data and inflation outlook. The market will also pay attention to the Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony before Congress, and the Fed’s minutes of its January meeting.
- The Earnings Season: The earnings season will continue to be a major factor for the market in February, as more companies will report their quarterly results and provide their guidance for the future. The market will focus on the sectors that have not yet been reported, such as financials, industrials, and consumer staples, and see how they fared in the last quarter and how they expect to perform in the next quarter. The market will also monitor the earnings surprises, the earnings revisions, and the earnings growth rates, and compare them with the historical averages and the market expectations.
- The Geopolitical Situation: The geopolitical situation will remain a source of risk for the market in February, as the tensions between the US and Russia over Ukraine, Iran over its nuclear program, and China and Taiwan over their sovereignty could escalate or de-escalate at any moment. The market will track the diplomatic efforts, the military movements, and the sanctions and counter-sanctions, and assess their potential impact on global stability and security. The market will also watch for any signs of cooperation or confrontation between the US and its allies and adversaries on other issues, such as trade, climate, and human rights.
- The Coronavirus Pandemic: The coronavirus pandemic will still be a challenge for the market in February, as the Omicron variant will continue to spread and cause new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in some countries. The market will evaluate the effectiveness of the vaccines, the treatments, and the testing against the variant, and the availability and accessibility of these tools across the world. The market will also gauge the economic and social consequences of the pandemic, and the policy responses from the governments and the health authorities, such as lockdowns, travel restrictions, stimulus measures, and public health guidelines.
The stock market in February 2024 will likely be influenced by a combination of these factors, and the market direction will depend on how they play out and how they interact with each other. The market could experience more volatility and uncertainty, as well as more opportunities and risks, in the next month. Investors will have to be prepared for any scenario, and adjust their strategies accordingly.