NEW YORK, – U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday, buoyed by a rally in megacap growth stocks following robust quarterly results from technology heavyweights Alphabet and Microsoft in addition to moderate inflation data. Investors cheered Alphabet’s first-ever dividend, its $70 billion stock buyback program, and better-than-expected first-quarter results. Its shares jumped 10% and reached a … Read more
Next week’s earnings reports from some of the market’s biggest technology and growth companies could prove an important test for the U.S. stock rally, which has flagged as expectations for interest cuts fade. Tesla, Meta Platforms, Alphabet and Microsoft – all set to report next week – are part of the group of companies that … Read more
Shares in Asia advanced Friday after a stellar quarter for US stocks ended on a positive note amid expectations that the world’s biggest economy will be able to achieve a soft landing. Japanese, South Korean and mainland Chinese stocks also rose, with much of the region, including Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore closed for a … Read more
U.S. stocks ended sharply higher on Friday and the S&P 500 registered an all-time closing high as strong earnings and a blowout January employment report boosted confidence in the economy, even while lowering the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates any time soon. The rally capped a tumultuous week filled with high … Read more
The U.S. stock market’s strong start to the year faces a major test next week in a stretch packed with big tech earnings, the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy meeting and the closely-watched employment report. The S&P 500 is up nearly 3% since the end of December and stands near record highs, driven in part by … Read more
The coming 12 months are shaping up as the year of the interest-rate cut. After racing ahead with the most aggressive tightening campaign in decades during 2022 and 2023, central banks around the world are poised to begin easing monetary policy as inflation continues to retreat. The shift is captured by Bloomberg Economics, whose aggregate … Read more
Investors’ hopes are running high to start 2024, which could set up U.S. stocks for a rocky stretch if some expectations are not met. Despite a shaky start to the year, the S&P 500 stands only around 2% below a fresh record high. Most investors have maintained a rosy view on everything from the U.S. … Read more
