US stocks climbed on Monday as Middle East war fears cooled, ahead of a pivotal week packed with Big Tech earnings, an inflation update, and a crucial monthly jobs report.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) jumped roughly 0.7%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose 0.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) also moved up about 0.5%.
The market was bolstered by relief that Israel limited its retaliatory strikes on Iran to military targets, and not oil or nuclear facilities as feared. Oil futures tumbled nearly 6%, taking Brent (BZ=F) down to almost $71 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate (CL=F) to near $67.
The focus is on tech stocks with five of the “Magnificent Seven” megacaps due to release earnings this week, after the Nasdaq Composite bucked Friday’s losing trend to close near a record.
Investors are looking to Alphabet (GOOGL,GOOG), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta (META) results to help boost the S&P 500 to new heights, too. But questions remain as to whether Big Tech’s investments in AI are paying off in profits. Some on Wall Street are anticipating the slowest growth in earnings for tech megacaps in six quarters.
The reports are the highlight in a very busy week of results, with 169 of the S&P 500’s members expected to release updates. Philips (PHG) shares sank 16% after the medical device maker cut its full-year sales outlook, citing a strong decline in Chinese demand. Ford (F) is on Monday’s docket after the bell.
At the same time, investors are bracing for a rush of economic data that could put bets on a “soft landing” to the test. In the forefront are the latest reading on the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge and the October jobs report — both seen as crucial to policymakers’ decision on whether to cut interest rates at their November meeting.
Read more: What the Fed rate cut means for bank accounts, CDs, loans, and credit cards
Elsewhere, stocks in Japan rallied after the country’s ruling party failed to hold onto its majority in elections on Sunday — underscoring political risks to markets with the US presidential vote just days away.
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Boeing offers nearly $19 billion share sale to shore up balance sheet, avoid downgrade
Boeing (BA) shares ticked slightly lower in premarket after the plane maker launched an almost $19 billion share sale in a move to shore up its liquidity and avoid a credit downgrade.
The company plans to sell about 90 million common shares and about $5 billion of depositary shares. Wall Street analysts had widely expected a large offering after a difficult year for the plane maker.
S&P Global recently placed Boeing on CreditWatch Negative, which increased the likelihood of a downgrade if the machinist union strike at the company continues until the end of the year.
Last week, a majority of workers rejected the latest labor contract proposal from Boeing. Earlier this month, the jet manufacturer said it would cut about 17,000 jobs, or 10% of its workforce.
As of Sept. 30, Boeing had $56.9 billion of outstanding senior unsecured indebtedness, according to a company filing.
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