/Stocks Drop as Growth Jitters Halt Earnings Rally: Markets Wrap
BusinessJanuary 23, 2019

Stocks Drop as Growth Jitters Halt Earnings Rally: Markets Wrap

U.S. stocks climbed from the lows of the day as traders debated the outlook for global growth. The dollar’s six-day rally stalled and crude oil dropped after an earlier increase.

The S&P 500 was little changed after whipsawing investors through the day following a spate of better-than-forecast quarterly results. Gains in
IBM, Procter & Gamble and United Technologies after positive earnings pushed the Dow back into the green. White House Council of Economic Advisers Chairman
Kevin Hassett said that if the partial government shutdown extends through March, there’s a chance of zero economic expansion this quarter, though “humongous” growth would follow once federal agencies reopen.

“The broader concern that I think will continue to creep in here is, leaving trade aside, is how weak is global growth? How weak is China’s growth?” said Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab & Co.

Doubts over foreign trade and politics continue to permeate global markets. White House adviser
Lawrence Kudlow said late Tuesday that negotiations between the U.S. and China next week will be “
determinative,” leaving traders on edge about the prospects for a deal. Meanwhile, the Senate is set to vote Thursday on legislation to reopen the government, though it’s
not clear that any measures will pass.

Earnings from corporate behemoths including Ford, still due on Wednesday, will give investors more to chew on.

Elsewhere, WTI oil retreated after climbing above $53 a barrel. The pound strengthened for a third day after
signs emerged that the U.K. Parliament is moving closer to a plan for delaying Brexit. The yen slid as the Bank of Japan cut its inflation outlook.

These are some events investors will be watching out for in the coming days:

  • Earnings season is in full swing: Texas Instruments and Ford are among companies posting results this week.
  • The World Economic Forum, the annual gathering of global leaders in politics, business and culture, continues in Davos, Switzerland.
  • There are monetary-policy decisions for the Bank of Korea and the European Central Bank, both Thursday.

And these are the main moves in markets:

Stocks

  • The S&P 500 Index fell 0.1 percent as of 1:54 p.m. New York time, while Nasdaq Composite Index eased 0.3 percent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4 percent.
  • The Stoxx Europe 600 Index fell 0.1 percent.
  • The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index dipped 0.9 percent.
  • Germany’s DAX Index fell 0.2 percent.
  • The MSCI Emerging Market Index rose 0.1 percent.

Currencies

  • The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.3 percent, the first drop in seven days.
  • The euro rose 0.3 percent to $1.1393.
  • TheBritish pound increased 0.9 percent to $1.3068, the third straight gain.
  • The Japanese yen weakened 0.1 percent to 109.46 per dollar, the first drop in three days.

Bonds

  • The yield on 10-year Treasuries rose less than one basis point to 2.75 percent.
  • Germany’s 10-year yield fell one basis point to 0.22 percent, the third straight decline.
  • Britain’s 10-year yield rose less than one basis point to 1.33 percent.

Commodities

  • West Texas Intermediate crude fell 0.4 percent to $52.35 a barrel, after initially gaining as much as 2 percent.
  • Gold was little changed at $1,284 an ounce.

— With assistance by Michael P. Regan

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