S&P Tops 6,800 as Trade Deal Hopes Build | Closing Bell

Market Overview - U.S. equities are experiencing record highs, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up over 300 points (0.7%), the S&P 500 up more than 80 points (1.3%), and the Nasdaq composite and Nasdaq 100 each up approximately 1.8% to 1.9% [6][7][9] - The VIX index is at just under 16, indicating a sense of complacency in the market [6] Earnings Reports - Avis Budget reported third-quarter revenue of $3.5 billion, slightly above the street estimate of $3.45 billion, with adjusted EBITA of $559 million, up 11% year-over-year [8][17] - Whirlpool's net sales came in at $4.3 billion, exceeding expectations of $3.93 billion, with EPS of $2.09, higher than the street estimate of $0.40 [22][23] - Qualcomm was the top gainer in the S&P 500, with shares up as much as 22% intraday, finishing with an 11% gain, driven by the unveiling of new chips for the data center market [12] Sector Performance - Strong breadth was observed in the market, with nine sectors in the green, particularly in big tech and consumer discretionary [10][11] - Consumer staples and materials were among the sectors in the red, indicating a risk-on appetite among investors [11] Company-Specific Developments - Amazon announced layoffs of 30,000 corporate workers, citing over-hiring, which reflects a return to previous narratives about big tech layoffs [4] - Keurig Dr. Pepper raised $7 billion from Apollo and KKR to finance its acquisition of JD Peet's N.V., planning to separate its beverage and coffee businesses by the end of 2026 [19] - Newmont shares fell 5.7% amid a decline in gold prices and news of a potential deal to gain control of Barrick Mining's Nevada gold assets [21]