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Tech Momentum and Fed Anticipation Propel Wall Street to New Heights

  U.S. stock futures climbed Wednesday morning, continuing a record-setting streak as investors rallied behind Nvidia’s meteoric rise and anticipated a pivotal decision from the Federal Reserve. The Dow Jones Industrial Average , S&P 500 , and Nasdaq 100 futures all posted gains, with the Nasdaq leading at a 0.5% increase, buoyed by tech optimism Nvidia (NVDA) surged in premarket trading, adding to its recent rally after CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote at the GTC event highlighted new AI partnerships and a bullish outlook for the industry. The company is now nearing a historic $5 trillion market valuation, driven by expectations of $500 billion in AI chip sales Investor sentiment was further lifted by speculation that former President Trump may ease restrictions on Nvidia’s sales to China, potentially boosting demand for its Blackwell AI processor Meanwhile, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve , which is widely expected to announce a 25 basis point interest rate cut at 2 p.m....

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Stocks close mixed as tech pares losses


On Tuesday, January 9, 2024, the US stock market closed with mixed results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) slipped 0.4% or about 150 points. The benchmark S&P 500 ( ^GSPC) fell by nearly 0.2%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC) crawled above the flatline, in a reversal of earlier losses. The tech rally wavered after a Samsung profit warning took the shine off the sector. Samsung’s update weighed on hopes for a rebound in the PC and mobile sector, a key market for its memory chips. The Korean company said it expects a 35% drop in fourth-quarter operating income, far short of estimates, as demand continues to lag.

Investors are focusing on the December consumer inflation reading due Thursday and what it could mean for the chances of easing interest rates. Two Federal Reserve officials on Monday poured cold water on Wall Street’s already fading expectations that a cut could come in the next few months. The idea that inflation is cooling underpins investors’ belief that the US economy will skirt recession. That conviction faces a crucial test on Friday, when big banks kick off the fourth-quarter earnings season.

Oil prices ( CL=F) ( BZ=F) rose just under 2%, recouping some of Monday’s near 4% fall as investors weighed the impact of tensions in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia’s decision to cut crude prices.


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