The Republican Party Has Two New High Profile Members
Here's What Kamala Harris Had to Say to the Teamsters. It's Pretty Funny.
Ex-CNN Reporter's Take About the GOP and the Media Gets Shredded With One...
Watch Barstool's Dave Portnoy Save a Pizzeria From Closing
Key Facts About the Saudi National Accused of Terrorist Attack at German Christmas...
Donald Trump Blasts Joe Biden for Commuting Sentences of Death Row Inmates
This Democratic Lawmaker Just Exploited Suicidal Veterans to Promote a Large-Capacity Maga...
10 New Ideas to Make America's Economy Great Again in 2025
US Lifts $10M Bounty on De Facto Syrian Leader's Head. Here's What He...
Mulvaney Explains What's Really Going on With Trump's Panama Threat
Greenland's PM Responds to Trump Saying US Ownership of Island Is 'Absolute Necessity'
Illegal immigrant Charged in NYC Subway Murder Was Previously Deported
Retiring Sen. Joe Manchin Blasts the Democratic Party in Exit Interview
Some of the Best Things in Life Are (Humanly) Unplanned
Those We Lost in 2024 - A Governor, Senator, and Congresswoman
OPINION

This Is A Breather, Not A Panic

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
AP Photo/Richard Drew, File

The Dow and the S&P 500 hit intraday and closing highs yesterday, with the S&P 500 just 2 points from 4600. Despite the records hit, the major indices gave up much of the gains. There was no panic, just overall sense of buyers taking a breather.

Advertisement

To see the chart, click here.

Still, nine of the eleven S&P 500 sectors finished in the green. Communication Services and Industrials were the laggards, pressured by Facebook (FB) and Lockheed Martin (LMT), respectively, after they reported earnings and issued downside revenue guidance.

S&P 500 Index

+0.18%

 

Communication Services XLC

 

-0.89%

Consumer Discretionary XLY

+0.02%

 

Consumer Staples XLP

+0.35%

 

Energy XLE

+0.58%

 

Financials XLF

+0.07%

 

Health Care XLV

+0.49%

 

Industrials XLI

 

-0.62%

Materials XLB

+0.28%

 

Real Estate XLRE

+0.46%

 

Technology XLK

+0.28%

 

Utilities XLU

+0.54%

 

 

Breadth was negative, and the down volume was higher on the NYSE.  Despite this, both indexes had significantly more new 52-week highs than lows.

Market Breadth

NYSE

NASDAQ

Advancing

1,498

2,072

Declining

1,844

2,556

52 Week High

202

236

52 Week Low

26

83

Up Volume

1.51B

3.93B

Down Volume

2.34B

2.99B

Billionaires Tax

The Democrats unveiled their latest plan to pay for President Biden’s $3.5 trillion Build Back Better initiative in a 107-page plan, by changing the way they tax billionaires. The proposed plan would eliminate the indefinite deferral of capital gains beginning in 2022.  Many wonder if this plan is even constitutional.

Portfolio Approach

There are no weighting changes to our Hotline Model Portfolio this morning.


Today’s Session

Advertisement

Earnings continue to roll in with 30% of the S&P500 having reported, 82% of which topped earning estimates and 80% exceeding on revenue. Two big giants, Microsoft (MSFT) and Google (GOOG/L) reported earnings after the close, which beat estimates. Both are up but well of their highs. 

Oil is taking a bit of breather this morning, but WTI is still near $83.50 per barrel. The 10 year is relatively flat at 1.57%, while the greenback is higher.

On the economic front, durable goods fell less than expected in September declining 0.4% vs. -0.9% consensus, the first decline in 5 months. August was revised to +1.3 from +1.1.

To see the chart, click here.

New orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft, which is a proxy for business spending, gained  8%, and well above the 0.5% estimate. Excluding transportation, new orders rose +0.4% and excluding defense, order declined by 2%.

The major indices are relatively flat this morning, with the Dow and S&P slipping slighting into the red.   

Charles is in Texas this week and part of the #CampusLibertyTour debates.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos