Mortgage rates hover around lowest level in three years, Sandisk stock soars on earnings

Market Overview - The stock market closed mostly lower, with the Dow managing to finish slightly in the green, while the NASDAQ experienced its worst day in several months [1][2][3] - The S&P 500 ended with a minor loss of about 13 basis points, while the Russell 2000 small-cap index was also slightly down [3] Company Performance - Microsoft saw a significant drop, down approximately 10% at its lows, marking its worst performance in several months [4] - Tesla also declined by 3%, while Meta's stock rose by 10%, contributing to a strong performance in the communication services sector [4][5] - SanDisk reported a revenue of $3.03 billion, exceeding expectations of $2.68 billion, and its earnings per share came in at $620, significantly higher than the expected $344 [22][23] - SanDisk's stock has surged over 90% year-to-date, driven by high demand for memory products in the AI sector [24][25] Sector Analysis - The communication services sector reached a record high, while technology was the worst-performing sector, down 1.6%, primarily due to poor performance in software stocks [5][6] - The software industry faced widespread declines, with companies like SAP down 15% and Atlassian down 10% [6][7] - In the semiconductor space, companies like Lamb Research and KLA saw gains of about 3.5%, indicating a mixed performance within the sector [7] Geopolitical Impact on Oil - Crude oil prices rose to their highest levels since September, influenced by President Trump's threats of military action against Iran, which has led to a risk premium in the oil market [11][12] - Analysts noted that the market is not currently pricing in a full-scale conflict but is reacting to operational signals and geopolitical tensions [12][13] Housing Market Insights - US mortgage rates are holding steady at 6.1%, the lowest in three years, but housing affordability remains a challenge due to high home prices [44][45] - The "lock-in effect" is causing homeowners with low-rate mortgages to keep their homes off the market, contributing to tight inventory levels [48][50] - New home listings have increased, but they are still 20% below pre-pandemic levels, indicating a slow recovery in housing supply [50][56] Future Outlook - Analysts expect continued high demand for memory products, particularly in AI infrastructure, but caution against potential oversupply in the future as production ramps up [39][42] - The housing market may see improvements in inventory levels, but significant policy changes at the state and local levels are needed to address long-term supply issues [52][56]