S&P 500 hits all-time high on Wall Street investors soft-landing hopes
September 19, 2024 / 21:23 IST
The S&P 500 topped 5,700 while the Dow Jones Industrial Average hovered near 42,000. Bloomberg
Wall Street traders betting the Federal Reserve will be able to engineer a soft landing spurred a rally in riskier corners of the market, with stocks hitting all-time highs.
Almost every major group in the S&P 500 gained, with the benchmark up 1.7% and poised for its 39th record this year. The Nasdaq 100 climbed 2.9% and the Russell 2000 of small caps extended its advance into a seventh straight session. Bitcoin jumped 5%. Bonds and the dollar fell.
The Fed’s bold start to cutting interest rates and its determination not to fall behind the curve re-ignited hopes the central bank will be able to avoid a recession. Data Thursday showing a slide in jobless claims to the lowest since May signaled the labor market remains healthy despite a slowdown in hiring.
“Despite some volatility after the Fed’s rate cut, the S&P 500’s bullish trend remains intact,” said Fawad Razaqzada at City Index and Forex.com. “The Fed’s decision to deliver a 50-basis point rate cut was largely welcomed by investors. The move was seen as a bold but necessary step to ease economic concerns without sending panic signals reminiscent of the 2008 financial crisis.”
Still, with the S&P 500 up about 20% in 2024 year-to-date, investors are wondering if the rally can be sustained.
“On the surface, it appears that market sentiment is bullish,” Razaqzada said. “Yet, looming risks, such as global economic slowdown in the Eurozone and China, may challenge this optimism. Moreover, seasonal trends indicate that September is typically a tough month for equities.”
The S&P 500 topped 5,700 while the Dow Jones Industrial Average hovered near 42,000.
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The yield on 10-year Treasuries advanced three basis points to 3.74%. The pound rose as the Bank of England held rates steady and said it won’t rush to ease policy. The yen fell ahead of the Bank of Japan policy decision.