Sector Investing

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Market Snapshot

https://www.briefing.com/stock-market-update

Dow 36302.38 +351.82 (0.98%)
Nasdaq 15871.25 +217.89 (1.39%)
SP 500 4791.19 +65.40 (1.38%)
10-yr Note +1/32 1.485
NYSE Adv 2204 Dec 1068 Vol 615.6 mln
Nasdaq Adv 2373 Dec 2279 Vol 3.7 bln

Industry Watch
Strong: Information Technology, Energy, Real Estate
Weak: Utilities

Moving the Market

-- S&P 500 sets intraday and closing record highs

-- Leadership from the mega-caps

-- Travel stocks underperformed amid Omicron-related disruptions

S&P 500 extends rally to record highs
27-Dec-21 16:15 ET
Dow +351.82 at 36302.38, Nasdaq +217.89 at 15871.25, S&P +65.40 at 4791.19

[BRIEFING.COM] The S&P 500 rose 1.4% on Monday, setting intraday and closing record highs in a steady advance. The Nasdaq Composite (+1.4%) kept pace, followed by the Dow Jones Industrial Average (+1.0%) and Russell 2000 (+0.9%) with solid gains.

The market didn't seem drawn to any specific piece of news, nor was there any economic data to influence investing decisions. Instead, the market appeared to benefit from a continued willingness among investors to buy equities when momentum remained in their favor, particularly at a seasonally-favorable time of the year.

All 11 S&P 500 sectors closed higher, led by the information technology (+2.2%), energy (+2.2%), and real estate (+2.0%) sectors with gains of at least 2.0%. The utilities sector underperformed on a relative basis with a 0.5% gain.

Retail investors might have had a greater role today based on the light trading volume at the NYSE and the huge gains in market favorites like Apple (AAPL 180.33, +4.05, +2.3%), Microsoft (MSFT 342.45, +7.76, +2.3%), Meta Platforms (FB 346.18, +10.94, +3.3%), Tesla (TSLA 1093.94, +26.94, +2.5%), and NVIDIA (NVDA 309.45, +13.05, +4.4%).

The mega-cap growth stocks did the heavy lifting while small-caps and micro-caps went along for the ride, as did value stocks. The Russell 1000 Growth Index rose 1.5%, versus a 1.1% gain in the Russell 1000 Value Index.

Looking at industry news, travel stocks struggled amid reports highlighting the disruptions that airlines and cruise lines have faced because of Omicron-related issues. Retail stocks benefited from Mastercard SpendingPulse data indicating that retail sales grew 8.5% year-over-year this holiday season (Nov. 1-Dec. 24).

U.S. Treasuries settled mixed with a trace of curve-flattening activity. The 2-yr yield increased one basis point to 0.70% while the 10-yr yield decreased one basis point to 1.48%. The U.S. Dollar Index increased 0.1% to 96.08. WTI crude futures rose 2.3%, or $1.71, to $75.56/bbl.

Investors did not receive any economic data on Monday. Looking ahead, the FHFA Housing Price Index for October and the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index for October will be released on Tuesday.

S&P 500 +27.6% YTD
Nasdaq Composite +23.1% YTD
Dow Jones Industrial Average +18.6% YTD
Russell 2000 +14.5% YTD

Crude futures settle above $75 per barrel
27-Dec-21 15:30 ET
Dow +282.65 at 36233.21, Nasdaq +190.01 at 15843.37, S&P +55.43 at 4781.22

[BRIEFING.COM] The S&P 500 is up 1.2% while the Russell 2000 is up 0.5%.

One last look at the sectors shows energy (+2.0%), information technology (+1.9%), real estate (+1.4%), and materials (+1.3%) up between 1-2% while the utilities sector is up just 0.3%.

WTI crude futures settled higher by 2.3%, or $1.71, to $75.56/bbl.