By Lewis Krauskopf NEW YORK (Reuters) -U.S. stocks have hit a string of record highs with minimal turbulence over the past few months, but investors say the rally could be undermined by persistently high inflation, possible earnings disappointments and elevated valuations. The S&P 500 has posted 25 record closing highs over the past three months and the benchmark index is approaching a third anniversary of a bull market that began on October 12, 2022. Stocks shook off fears that President Donald Trump ...

U.S. rate futures have priced in a 91.9% probability of a 25 basis point rate cut and an 8.1% chance of no rate change at October’s monetary policy meeting.San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said on Wednesday that more interest rate cuts will likely be needed, but noted that policymakers should proceed carefully. “It is likely that further policy adjustments will be needed as we work to restore price stability while providing needed support to the labor market,” Daly said.Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secreta ...

By Chibuike Oguh NEW YORK (Reuters) -The dollar strengthened against major peers including the euro and yen on Thursday following U.S. economic data, which would likely restrain the future interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. The Commerce Department reported that U.S. gross domestic product rose by an upwardly revised rate of 3.8% from April through June, higher than 3.3% initially reported. Economists polled by Reuters did not expect the rate to be revised. The dollar strengthened 0.58% to 149. ...

By Nicole Jao NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil prices steadied on Thursday after hitting a seven-week high in the previous session as Russia moved to restrict fuel exports until the end of the year, but the gains were limited by new U.S. economic data that tempered optimism around further interest rate cuts. Brent futures settled 11 cents, or 0.16%, higher at $69.42 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures lost 1 cent, or 0.02%, to $64.98. Both benchmarks gained 2.5% on Wednesday to reach their highes ...

[Music] I'm Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian S and you're taking a look at a live shot of the opening bells on Wall Street on this uh somewhat rainy Wednesday morning here in New York City. That is at least the government of Switzerland ring the bell. The New York Stock Exchange Security National getting things underway at the NASDAQ. Of course, they're keeping things secure. All right, if the market is trying to show everyone that it knows what a meltup is, it's doing a pretty good job. Friends, stocks ...

Market Overview - US stock futures are rebounding after a sell-off, with major averages still near record highs, particularly the S&P 500, which has not dropped by at least 2% in 107 sessions, the longest stretch since July 2024 [1][2] - Tech stocks, which experienced significant selling, are seeing a rebound driven by renewed optimism in AI, particularly following positive earnings from Micron [2][6] Company Highlights - Micron reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue of $11.3 billion, exceeding expectations, and adjusted earnings of $3.3, also above forecasts. The CEO indicated that trillions of dollars will be invested in AI, with a significant portion allocated to memory products [15][16] - Alibaba's stock surged to a four-year high after announcing plans to increase AI spending beyond an initial target of $50 billion and a partnership with Nvidia to develop AI infrastructure. The stock rose over 9% following the announcement [3][9][10] Industry Trends - The AI sector is experiencing fluctuating sentiment, with investors oscillating between excitement and skepticism. Recent developments from companies like Alibaba and Micron are contributing to renewed optimism [8][29] - Asian stocks are trading near four-year highs, with the Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite indices showing significant gains, indicating a strong performance in the region [12][13] Federal Reserve Insights - Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated that equities are highly valued, contributing to a slight market pullback. However, there is optimism regarding potential interest rate cuts later this year [7][20] - Fed Governor Michelle Bowman expressed concerns about the labor market's fragility and suggested that the Fed may need to adjust policy more aggressively if conditions worsen [22][23]

Nvidia is investing in OpenAI. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Getty ImagesKey TakeawaysPowell’s Cautious Remarks Shift Focus Toward Upcoming Inflation DataNvidia’s Massive AI Investments Drive Market Cap And Sector MomentumLithium Americas Surges On Potential Government Stake And EV DemandMajor market indices fell on Tuesday with the S&P 500 dropping 0.55% and Nasdaq Composite falling 0.95%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Russell 2000 fell by 0.19% and 0.24%, respectively. After celebrating la ...

Market Overview - U.S. stocks finished lower, with the Nasdaq leading declines, primarily driven by Nvidia's share drop after announcing a plan to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI [1][7] - Major tech companies such as Amazon.com, Microsoft, and Apple also experienced declines [1][7] - AutoZone's shares fell after reporting fourth-quarter profits that missed estimates [1][7] Federal Reserve Insights - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated the need to balance inflation concerns with a weakening job market in future interest rate decisions [7] - Powell's speech was characterized as somewhat dovish, leaving the door open for another rate cut, but without specific timing or magnitude [2][7] - Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman suggested that the Fed could downplay persistent inflation concerns and should commit to rate cuts to support the job market [6][7] Index Performance - The S&P 500 lost 36.57 points, or 0.55%, closing at 6,657.18 points [6] - The Nasdaq Composite fell 214.84 points, or 0.93%, ending at 22,577.34 [6] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 82.46 points, or 0.18%, to close at 46,299.08 [6] Company-Specific Developments - Boeing's shares edged higher after securing an order from Uzbekistan Airways valued at over $8 billion, helping to limit declines on the Dow [6][7] - Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, saw its shares rise on Tuesday after a significant drop of 7.5% on Monday, influenced by comments from U.S. President Donald Trump linking autism to childhood vaccine use and Tylenol consumption during pregnancy [6][7]

Valuation looks attractive, with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 9.76x, much lower than the sector average of 30.51x, suggesting it may be undervalued. The current dividend yield is 4.73%, supported by a payout ratio of a little over 100%, illustrating STRW's recent strong dividend increase and commitment to rewarding shareholders. It has raised dividends two years in a row and pays quarterly, making it appealing for income-focused investors.The stock has performed well, rising about 17.08% over ...

US stocks were mixed on Wednesday, as Wall Street digested mixed messaging from Fed officials on US interest rates and Alibaba's (BABA) spending plans lifted hopes for the AI trade. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) and the S&P 500 (^GSPC) surrendered earlier gains to trade roughly flat, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) moved up 0.1%. Debate over the prospects for US interest rate cuts — the big focus for markets right now — appeared to keep a lid on gains. Comments from Federal Reser ...