Investing.com – Boeing (NYSE:BA) and Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) pulled the Dow lower. But investors said "So what?" and, thanks to a rally in chip, airline and bank stocks, pushed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to record closes.
Investing.com – Boeing (NYSE:BA) and Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) pulled the Dow lower. But investors said "So what?" and, thanks to a rally in chip, airline and bank stocks, pushed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to record closes.
Chip stocks, led by Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN), were the big market drivers as the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.85%. The S&P 500, down or flat for much of the day, surged to a 0.4% gain.
Chip stocks, led by Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN), were the big market drivers as the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.85%. The S&P 500, down or flat for much of the day, surged to a 0.4% gain.
The Dow dropped 0.3%, largely because Boeing's (NYSE:BA) and Caterpillar's (NYSE:CAT) declines cost the index 120 point by themselves.
After the close, Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) shares were up 1.8% after the social media company reported $1.99 a share in earnings, beating the $1.87 estimate of analysts polled by Investing.com. Revenue was $16.9 billion, up 23% from a year ago and ahead of the Investing.com estimate of $16.5 billion. Facebook rose 1.14% in regular trading.
There was concern that shares of Facebook, Google parent Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) would be pressured Wednesday after Tuesday's reports that the Justice Department was starting a comprehensive antitrust probe into the tech giants. Facebook and Amazon both showed gains. Alphabet and Apple were off slightly.
Separately, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) shares fell about 10% postmarket after second-quarter revenue and earnings missed analyst expectations.
The Dow dropped 0.3%, largely because Boeing's (NYSE:BA) and Caterpillar's (NYSE:CAT) declines cost the index 120 point by themselves.
After the close, Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) shares were up 1.8% after the social media company reported $1.99 a share in earnings, beating the $1.87 estimate of analysts polled by Investing.com. Revenue was $16.9 billion, up 23% from a year ago and ahead of the Investing.com estimate of $16.5 billion. Facebook rose 1.14% in regular trading.
There was concern that shares of Facebook, Google parent Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) would be pressured Wednesday after Tuesday's reports that the Justice Department was starting a comprehensive antitrust probe into the tech giants. Facebook and Amazon both showed gains. Alphabet and Apple were off slightly.
Separately, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) shares fell about 10% postmarket after second-quarter revenue and earnings missed analyst expectations.
Boeing fell 3.2% and Caterpillar fell about 4.5% and were the big stories in the morning.
Boeing fell 3.2% and Caterpillar fell about 4.5% and were the big stories in the morning.
Boeing's decline was due entirely to the uncertainty over when its troubled 737 Max jetliner will fly again. The aerospace giant has continued to build the planes as normal, but the company warned it would cut back production or halt it temporarily if the grounding goes on. The news was a jolt to Seattle. The plane, Boeing's best seller, is built at a factory employing 10,000 in nearby Renton, Wash. The company is one of the Seattle region's biggest employers.
In the meantime, the company took a $4.9 billion after-tax charge from the 737 problem and incurred another $1.7 billion in extra costs. It delivered just 90 commercial planes in the quarter, down from 194 a year ago.
Caterpillar fell because its Asia business is getting hurt by the economic slowdown in China and tariffs that boosted costs for the maker of bulldozers and other heavy construction equipment by more than $70 million in the quarter. Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) expects $250 million to $300 million in tariff-related costs, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Earnings were up a penny to $2.83 as share, but missed the Investing.com estimate of $3.12. Revenue was up 3%,The company said its full-year earnings would be at the low end of prior guidance of $12.06 to $13.06.
Boeing's decline was due entirely to the uncertainty over when its troubled 737 Max jetliner will fly again. The aerospace giant has continued to build the planes as normal, but the company warned it would cut back production or halt it temporarily if the grounding goes on. The news was a jolt to Seattle. The plane, Boeing's best seller, is built at a factory employing 10,000 in nearby Renton, Wash. The company is one of the Seattle region's biggest employers.
In the meantime, the company took a $4.9 billion after-tax charge from the 737 problem and incurred another $1.7 billion in extra costs. It delivered just 90 commercial planes in the quarter, down from 194 a year ago.
Caterpillar fell because its Asia business is getting hurt by the economic slowdown in China and tariffs that boosted costs for the maker of bulldozers and other heavy construction equipment by more than $70 million in the quarter. Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) expects $250 million to $300 million in tariff-related costs, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Earnings were up a penny to $2.83 as share, but missed the Investing.com estimate of $3.12. Revenue was up 3%,The company said its full-year earnings would be at the low end of prior guidance of $12.06 to $13.06.
None of that worried investors in chips. Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN) was among the top Nasdaq 100 stocks on the strength of a strong earnings report Tuesday. Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) rallied as well. It reports after Thursday's close, along with Amazon.
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumped more than 3%.
None of that worried investors in chips. Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN) was among the top Nasdaq 100 stocks on the strength of a strong earnings report Tuesday. Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) rallied as well. It reports after Thursday's close, along with Amazon.
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index jumped more than 3%.
Airlines were helped by falling oil prices, which seemed to take many by surprise. An Energy Information Administration report showing a huge drawdown on domestic supplies was blamed on the after-effects of Hurricane Barry, which shut in large amounts of production from Gulf of Mexico production platforms.
Airlines were helped by falling oil prices, which seemed to take many by surprise. An Energy Information Administration report showing a huge drawdown on domestic supplies was blamed on the after-effects of Hurricane Barry, which shut in large amounts of production from Gulf of Mexico production platforms.
WTI futures dropped 1.6% to $55.88 a barrel in New York. Brent, the benchmark global crude, fell 1% to $63.18.
American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) rose 2.6%. United Airlines parent United Continental Holdings (NASDAQ:UAL) added 0.2%. Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) and Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) were up 1.1% and 0.7%, respectively.
WTI futures dropped 1.6% to $55.88 a barrel in New York. Brent, the benchmark global crude, fell 1% to $63.18.
American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) rose 2.6%. United Airlines parent United Continental Holdings (NASDAQ:UAL) added 0.2%. Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) and Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) were up 1.1% and 0.7%, respectively.
Interest rates moved lower on worries the economy may be slowing. The 10-Year yield fell to 2.046% from 2.074% on Tuesday.
The Federal Reserve is expected to trim its federal funds rate to 2% to 2.25% next week. Investing.com's Fed Rate Monitor Tool puts the odds of a rate cut at 100%.
Interest rates moved lower on worries the economy may be slowing. The 10-Year yield fell to 2.046% from 2.074% on Tuesday.
The Federal Reserve is expected to trim its federal funds rate to 2% to 2.25% next week. Investing.com's Fed Rate Monitor Tool puts the odds of a rate cut at 100%.