Market Overview - The market managed to avoid a crisis or significant decline in October, with the Dow finishing up 41 points and the NASDAQ increasing by 61 points [1] - Despite a strong opening, the market initially faced challenges but ultimately found stability [1] Company Performance - Amazon's stock surged nearly 10% to an all-time high, reflecting positive investor sentiment [2] - In contrast, Apple's stock opened strong but lost all its gains, indicating mixed performance among major tech companies [2] - Alphabet was the only major tech company to perform well, while Meta experienced a significant decline, dropping more than 100 points in two days [2] Investment Sentiment - Wall Street is skeptical about heavy capital spending in AI, particularly regarding Meta's strategy under Mark Zuckerberg [3][4] - Despite skepticism, there is a belief that owning strong stocks is a good defense in a challenging market, emphasizing the importance of a diversified portfolio [4] - Long-term investment is encouraged, with a focus on holding stocks rather than frequent trading [5] Economic Context - Many consumer-serving companies are facing challenges due to inflation, government shutdowns, and concerns about AI impacting jobs [6] - The earnings season has concluded without major disruptions, suggesting resilience in the market [6][7]
I'm shocked we made it through October without a nasty decline, says Jim Cramer