Markets News, Oct. 26, 2023: Stocks Tumble; S&P 500 on Cusp of Correction After Strong Q3 GDP Report

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Update (Oct. 27, 2023): For today's live markets coverage, see here.

Stocks fell Thursday, with the S&P 500 coming within 10 points of a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:correction, as markets digested stronger-than-expected U.S. GDP data ahead of tech giant Amazon's🐓 third-quarter earnings.

The Nasdaq led the indexes lower, falling almost 1.8%. The tech-heavy index has fallen 4.14% in the last two sessions, its worst two-day stretch since December 2022. The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:S&P 500 lost 1.2%, just narrowly avoiding a correction, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.8%.

U.S. GDP increased at an annualized rate of 4.9% in the third quarter, a dramatic acceleration from the prior quarter's rate of 2.1% and the fastest pace of growth since 2021.

Meta Platforms' (META) third-quarter earnings beat analyst estimates on the top and bottom lines, with revenue growing𝄹 23% year-over-year and net income more than doubling. Shares initially rose in after-hours trading, before tumbling Thursday after chief financial officer Susan Li said the company noticed some softening in ad spending at the beginning of this quarter amid geopolitical un⛎certainty.

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Stocks sank yesterday after Google pa🦩rent Alphabet reported weaker-than-expected cloud sales growth, sending the tech-heavy Nasdaq to a 5-month low as Treasury yields climbed.

S&P 500 Gains and Losses Today

October 26, 2023 05:07 PM EDT

Here are the stocks in the S&P 500 that gained and lost the most today, and ﷺ澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:the stories behind the market movers.

Chart of the 8 S&P 500 stocks that gained and lost the most on Oct. 26, 2023.

Dow Drops as GDP Growth Spurs Interest Rate Fears

October 26, 2023 04:40 PM EDT

After rallying in the afternoon to nearly break even, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Dow Jones Industrial Average dove in the last hour of trading to close down 251 points, or about 0.8%, after a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:strong U.S. gross domestic product🧸 (GDP) figure stoked fears the Federal Reserve will need to keep rates high for longer than expected to cool 🍸the U.S. economy.

In the last seven sessions, the Dow🅺 has fallen by 2ꦿ00 or more points in four of them and risen in just one. 

IBM (IBM) shares jumped nearly 4.9% after it modestly topped analyst estimates in its earnings report. CEO Arvind Krishna said on a conference call that its generative 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:artificial intelligence (AI) offerings could generate $1 billion in annual revenue at the thꦍird quꦇarter’s booking rate.

Verizon (VZ) shares moved higher by 2.5% after it beat earnings expectations earlier this week on solid 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:home and business internet sales.

Shares of Merck & Co. (MRK) gained nearly 1.9% in value as the pharmaceu💧t🐬ical maker’s third-quarter earnings beat expectations on rising sales of its lung cancer treatment Keytruda, HPV vaccine Gardasil, and, surprisingly, Covid-19 antiviral Legavrio, sales of which jumped 47%.

Microsoft (MSFT) shares fell almost 3.8% to lead the Dow 30 lower, giving back all of yesterday’s gains. Shares rose more than 3% yesterday after the company reported strong 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:re൲venue growth in its cloud business

Furthering the tech’s woes, Apple (AAPL) shares declined by 2.5% while Cisco Systems (CSCO) shares dropped by 2%. Intel (INTC) shares fell 0.9% ahead of its earnings report after the bell. Salesforce (CRM) dipped 0.4%. 

Shares of Nike (NKE) fell 3.4% and Visa (V) slid 2.4%.

-Terry Lane

Sou𓄧thwest Airlines Earnings Sink on Rising Fuel and Labor Expenses

October 26, 2023 03:56 PM EDT

Southwest Airlines (LUV) shares lost ground after the carrier reported p🦂rofit was dragged down by higher fuel and labor costs.

The biggest domestic U.S. carrier reported third-quarter fiscal 2023 earnings sank 30.3% from a year ago to $193 million, or $0.38 per share, in line with estimates. Revenue rose 4.9% to $6.53 billion, slightly less than forecasts.

Southwest noted tha𒉰t fuel costs reached $2.78 per gallon, at the high end of its expectations because of increasing oil prices. Costs for salaries, wages, and benefits jumped 17.5% to $2.73 billion.

Shares of Southwest Airlines were down 1% late in the session Thursday, on track to close at a nine-and-a-hꦬalf-year low.

-Bill McColl

American Tower Propels Real-Estate Sector Higher

October 26, 2023 02:55 PM EDT

Real estate was far and away the best-performing sector of the session Thursday afternoon, with the S&P 500’s real estate stocks ♑gaining more than 2.4% last of the late afternoon. 

Those gains were driven by a more than 7% increase in American Tower’s (AMT) share price after the cell tower owner reported a 6% increase in revenue and 9% growth in attributable 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:adjusted funds from operations.

The company also said company veteran Steve Vondran, who joined the company in 2000 and has served as President of the U.S. Tower Division, would replace Tom Bartlett as CEO efꦜfective Feb. 1, 2024. 

Fellow cell tower owners Crown Castle Inc. (CCI) and SBA Communications Corp. (SBAC) both rose more than 5% Thursday, as did data center owner Equinix Inc. (EQIX).

Merck Beats E▨arnings Estimates on𒐪 Strong Keytruda and, Surprisingly, Covid Drug Sales

October 26, 2023 01:53 PM EDT

Merck & Co. (MRK) shares rose 3% Thursday after its third-quarter results beat Wall Street estimates on strong sales of its lung cancer d🎀rug Keytruda, HPV vaccine Gardasil, and Covid treatment Lagevrio.

Revenue grew 7% to just under $15.96 billion. Adjusted net income rose 15% to $5.4 billion, or $2.13 a share. Analysts had expected revenue of about $15.3 billion and earnings of less than $2 a sha🥃re. 

Sales of Keytruda and Gardasil, Merck’s best-selling drugs, increased by double-digit percentages in the quarter. While Mer🐬ck’s Covid antiviral,𝕴 Lagevrio, bucked the industry trend and saw a nearly 50% increase in sales, which Merck attributed to rising demand in Japan. 

Covid-related sales were a dark spot on competitors' Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) and Pfizer’s (PFE) earnings reports. Pfizer said it was writing down🌜 billions of dolla🐲rs worth of Covid vaccine and antiviral inventory after watching demand for both plummet ꦰin the se♈cond quarter. While Johnson & Johnson’s 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Covid vaccine revenue fell more th♓an 91% year-over-year in the third quarter. 

Mattel and Hasbro Shares Tumble After Warn🦂ing A🍎bout Holiday Toy Sales

October 26, 2023 01:11 PM EDT

Shares of Mattel (MAT) and Hasbro (HAS) plummeted Thursday as 澳洲幸运5开奖ꦅ号码历史查询:the two toymakers w🥃arned of soft sales during the key holiday shopping season.

Mattel CEO A🐭nthony DiSilves𝔍tro said the industry was dealing with “a challenging macroenvironment with higher volatility that may impact consumer demand.” The company indicated that it expects its full-year sales will be comparable to the $5.44 billion it made last year.

The news dampened some of the enthusiasm following a boom in demand for Mattel's Barbie dolls, fueled by the hit “Barbie” movie. Third-quarter Barbie sales jumped 16% to $605 million and helped Mattel post $1.92 billion in revenue, a 9% year-over-year increase that exceeded forecasts.

Hasbro reduced its full-year guidance as slowing toy demand cut into its sales. Consumer Products sales fell 18% year-over-year to $957 million in the third quarter, in part because of “soft industry trends.”

Shares of Hasbro were downꦦ close to 10% T𒁃hursday afternoon, while shares of Mattel lost more than 7%.

-Bill McColl

Midday Market Movers

October 26, 2023 12:02 PM EDT

Align Technology Inc. (ALGN): Shares of the orthodontic product maker tumbled more than 23% after it cut its full-year sales outlook, citing “deteriorating trends, including decreased patient visits and increased patient appointment cancellations, along with fewer orthodontic case starts overall.”

Western Digital Corp. (WDC): Shares of the maker of data storage devices fell more than 12% after SK Hynix Inc. voiced opp🐽osition to Western Digital’s proposed acquisition of Japanese comp🐟uter memory company Kioxia Holdings, of which SK Hynix is a major shareholder. 

Whirlpool Corp. (WHR): The home appliance maker’s shares tumbled more than 12% after it lowered its full-year earnings guidance on narrower margins. The company now expects full-year earnings of about $16 per share🎃, compared with prior estimates of between $16 and $18 a share. 

Masco Corp. (MAS): Shares of the home improvement and building products maker gained 6% after it raised its full-year earnings outlook after reporting wider margins from cost controls and favorable sales mix helped offset declining sales last quarter.&nb🥀sp;

International Business Machines (IBM): Shares of the tech company rose more than 5% after its third-quarter earnings beat analysts’ expectations on the top and bottom lines. The company swung to a profit, reporting net income of $1.7 biꦡllion aft🎀er losing $3.2 billion in the year-ago quarter.

UPS Trims Its Outlook After Steep Decline in 3Q Profit as Labor and🍰 Fuel Costs Rise

October 26, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

United Parcel Service (UPS) on Thursday reported steep declines in revenue and profi🔯t for the third quarter, as demand for the company's services declined amid economic and labor-related challenges. The company also trimmed its guidance for the full year, sending shares lower in early tra💦ding.

The package delivery company's revenue fell 13% year-over-year to $21.1 billion, which fell short of analysts' expectations. Adjusted earnings of $1.57 a share came in higher than the consensus view but represented a 48% decline from a year ago.

Chief Executive Officer Carol Tomé said that traffic UPS lost to other carriers while it negotiated a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:new labor contract with Teamsters-repres🐓ented workers over𝕴 the summer had started to return.

However,๊ the company cut its full-year revenue target to between $91.3 billion and $92.3 billion, and sliced its adjusted operating margin projection to 10.8% to 11.3%, citing the global economic uncertainty.

UPS shares were down about 4% as of 11 a.m. ET Thursday, trading near their lowest level since July 2020. They have l♉ost nearly 20% of their value year-to-date.

-Nathan Reiff

Mastercard Beats Earnings as Consumer Spending Drives Transactiღon Volume

October 26, 2023 10:10 AM EDT

Mastercard Inc.'s (MA) third-quarter fiscal results came in a♎head of expectations, with the payments processor reporting a second consecutive quar🌱ter of profit𝓡 growth on continued strong consumer spending trends.

Mastercard posted net income of $3.2 billion, or $3.39 per share, representing an increase of 28% on a year-over-year basis. The company's revenue also climbed, growing 14% year-over-year to $6.5 billion for the quarter, as transaction volumes also grew.

Higher interest rates have also been a boon for payment processors like Mastercard, which is able to charge higher interest rates to its credit card customers in the process. However, the company forecast weaker revenue growth on uncertainty around interest rates and the economy.

Shares were down more than 4% Thursdaꩵy morning, but are up more than 15% from thiꦉs time last year.

-Nathan Reiff

Europe Holds R☂ates Steady 🌼After 10 Consecutive Rate Hikes

October 26, 2023 09:28 AM EDT

The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday held benchmark eurozone interest rates steady for the first time in over a year, ending a streak of 10 consecutive rate hikes that brought the bank’s deposit rate to a record 4%. 

Eurozone inflation fell to 4.3% in September, a dramatic drop from August’s reading of 5.2%. The ECB is hoping that its past interest rate hikes will continue to work their way through𓂃 the economy, tightening financial conditions and dampening demand. 

The ECB, like the Fed, reiterated its “data-dependent” approach, keeping the door open f✅or further rate hikes should inflation prove stickier than expected. 

Consumer Spending Turbocharges U.S. GDP Growth

October 26, 2023 09:14 AM EDT

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Consumer spending s🐓ent U.S. GDP surging, according to the B𝐆ureau of Economic Ana🦹lysis’s first estimate of third-quarter GDP. 

The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 4.9% from July through September, more than the 4.5% that economists were expecting, and well above the 2.1% increase in the prior quarter. Accelerating GDP growth was attributed primarily to a broad increase in consumer spending on goods and services. 

The 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:personal consumption expꦬenditures (PCE) price index—the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge—increased 2.9% after rising 2.5% in the second quarter. But 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, decelerated to an annu🐽al rate of 2.4% from the prior🐻 quarter’s rate of 3.7%. 

Stock futures swung higher after the release, signaling the era of “bad news is good news”—in which strong economic growth🌠 and low unemployment were interpreted as more reason for the Federal Reserve to raise interest r꧂ates—may be coming to an end.

Stock Futures Fall Further as Tech Rout Continues

October 26, 2023 08:32 AM EDT

Futures contracts connected to the Dow Jones I🌊ndustrial Average were 0.4% lower in premarket trading.

Dow futures (Oct. 26, 2023)

S&P 500 futures lost 0.6%.

S&P 500 futures (Oct. 26, 2023)

And Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 0.9%, continuing yesterday's tech sell-off.

Nasdaq 100 futures (Oct. 26, 2023)
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  3. American Tower Corporation. "."

  4. Merck & Co. "."

  5. Mattel. "."

  6. European Commission. “.”

  7. Align Technology Inc. “.”

  8. UPS. "."

  9. Mastercard. "."

  10. European Central Bank. "."

  11. Bureau of Economic Analysis. “.”

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