Closing Stock Market SummaryThe S&P 500 declined 0.8% on Thursday, failing to overcome weak economic data and a fresh increase in U.S.-China tensions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite lost 1.0%. The small-cap Russell 2000, however, eked out a 0.1% gain.
Losses broadened out to ten of the 11 S&P 500 sectors, including energy (-1.5%) and information technology (-1.4%). The industrials sector (+0.2%) was the lone sector to close in positive territory, thanks to shares of Boeing (BA 139.00, +5.68, +4.3%) after the stock was initiated with an Outperform rating at RBC Capital Mkts.
Regarding today's economic data and U.S.-China news, it should be prefaced that the market wasn't too shocked or upset by the news. That's been the case since its March 23 low, at least. In fact, advancing issues outpaced declining issues at the NYSE, but the market was without the leadership from its mega-cap components.
Weekly initial claims decreased by 249,000 to 2.438 million (consensus 2.400 million), bringing the nine-week total to 38.636 million; continuing claims increased to an all-time high of 25.073 million; and existing home sales fell 17.8% m/m in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.33 million (Briefing.com consensus 4.32 million).
On the U.S.-China front, the White House issued a report criticizing China's economic and military policies, President Trump accused China of a "disinformation and propaganda attack" on the U.S. and Europe, and a bipartisan group of Senators planned to introduce legislation to sanction China over new national security laws in Hong Kong.
Separately, buyers appeared to concentrate their efforts to the retail space following positive earnings/reopening news from TJX Cos. (TJX 54.30, +3.45, +6.8%) and BJ's Wholesale (BJ 35.25, +6.28, +21.7%). Best Buy (BBY 77.98, -3.56, -4.4%) was an exception despite reporting positive quarterly results. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT 39.09, +0.7) rose 2.0%.
On a related note, Starbucks (SBUX 78.05, +0.29, +0.4%) told partners that it's tracking slightly above its forecasted recovery curve.
U.S. Treasuries finished the session little changed. The 2-yr yield declined one basis point to 0.15%, and the 10-yr yield was unchanged at 0.68%. The U.S. Dollar Index increased 0.3% to 99.44. WTI crude increased another 1.3%, or $0.45, to $33.96/bbl.
Reviewing Thursday's economic data, which featured the weekly jobless claims report:
- Initial claims for the week ending May 16 decreased by 249,000 to 2.438 million (consensus 2.400 million), bringing the 9-week total to 38.636 million. Continuing claims for the week ending May 9 surged by 2,525,000 to 25.073 million, which is an all-time high.
- The key takeaway from the report in the market's mind is that the pace of initial claims is decelerating; however, the real-world takeaway is that the economic damage runs deep as initial claims and continuing claims keep piling up.
- Existing home sales plummeted 17.8% m/m in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.33 million (consensus 4.32 million). That is the lowest level of home sales since July 2010.
- The key takeaway from the report is that sellers pulled listings amid the COVID-related downturn in demand, yet the inventory constraint translated into higher prices for buyers remaining in the market.
- The Conference Board's Leading Economic Index decreased 4.4% m/m in April (consensus -5.3%) following a downwardly revised (and record) 7.4% decline (from -6.7%) in March.
- The key takeaway from the report is the Conference Board's conclusion that the breadth and depth of the decline in the index does not imply a fast rebound for the economy at large, even with the imminent reopening of some sectors.
- The Philadelphia Fed Index for May increased to -43.1 (consensus -43.0) from the -56.6 reading in April.
Investors will not receive any notable economic data on Friday.
- Nasdaq Composite +3.5% YTD
- S&P 500 -8.7% YTD
- Dow Jones Industrial Average -14.2% YTD
- Russell 2000 -19.2% YTD