By Wallace Witkowski and Anora Mahmudova, MarketWatch
Deere, Applied Materials, Ross Stores shares on the move
U.S. stocks advanced for a second straight session on Friday,
cutting into sharp losses for the week, after a drama surrounding
the White House abated.
The S&P 500 index added 20 points, or 0.9%, to 2,385, with
all of its 11 main sectors trading higher. The financials, energy
and industrials sectors led the gains, all up more than 1%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 170 points, or 0.8%, to
20,833. Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) and General Electric Co.(GE) were
leading the gains, up nearly 2%.
The Nasdaq Composite Index surged 44 points, or 0.7%, to 6,100,
powered by more than 2% gains in U.S. shares of Baidu Inc.(BIDU),
Nvidia Corp.(NVDA), and Starbucks Corp.(SBUX)
For the week, however, all three indexes are looking at losses
of 0.2% to 0.3% following Wednesday's sharp downdraft. Friday's
jump helped to cut into what would have been at least 1% losses for
the equity benchmarks.
"Over the past two days the news cycle went from the intense
inferno-type fire to just regular fire, allowing markets to calm
down," said Tom Siomades, head of the Investment Consulting Group
of Hartford Funds.
Markets were rattled earlier this week, with investors caught
off guard Wednesday following a report that President Donald Trump
in February asked then-Federal Bureau of Investigation Director
James Comey to stop an investigation into Russian interference into
the U.S. election, causing some investors to question whether Trump
will even finish his term. Stocks started to bounce back on
Thursday after Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed
former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/robert-mueller-ex-fbi-director-named-special-counsel-for-russia-probe-2017-05-17)
to oversee the bureau's investigation.
Read:Why the White House should worry: Special counsels usually
result in criminal charges
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-the-white-house-should-worry-special-counsels-usually-result-in-criminal-charges-2017-05-18)
That appointment did a lot to placate skittish investors, and
allow the focus to go back to economic growth more rooted in
current business conditions than those more favorable conditions
that could get derailed with the drama out of Washington, said
Diane Jaffee, senior portfolio manager at TCW
"Clearly, appointing Mueller was brilliant," Jaffee said.
"Regardless of who is in office you want the rule of law. You want
that the government will prevail in maintaining checks and
balances."
Even with weak GDP growth in the first quarter, which even the
Federal Reserve called "transitory"
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-holds-interest-rates-steady-dismisses-first-quarter-slump-as-transitory-2017-05-03),
what many people overlook is that business investment surged 9.4%
in the quarter, and not because of election promises, Jaffee
said.
Read: Fed minutes may quell fresh doubts about a June rate
increase
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-minutes-may-quell-fresh-doubts-about-a-june-rate-hike-2017-05-19)
As earnings are finally beginning to grow at a healthy pace and
fewer companies are cutting costs to pad their results, we're
beginning to see business investment, which Jaffee said has "been a
long time coming."
Still, investors have increasingly questioned whether President
Trump can deliver on his economic stimulus promises amid
investigations.
Opinion:Market sentiment during Watergate shows how stocks might
react to Trump
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/market-sentiment-during-watergate-shows-how-stocks-might-react-to-trump-2017-05-19)
"This week political risk has caught up on the market but it's
still unclear whether it has any legs," wrote Deutsche Bank
strategist Jim Reid and research analyst Craig Nicol in a note to
clients Friday.
"Whether this latest Trump bout of volatility lasts depends on
what Mr. Comey really has on the president, but there wasn't much
new news to report on the story yesterday which helped U.S.
equities to recover," said the Deutsche Bank team.
Observers said investors will be closely watching potential
developments on the controversy next week. Lawmakers have asked the
FBI to turn over the notes Comey said he made from his meetings
with Trump by next week, and a congressional hearing on the matter
is due to take place, at which the former FBI head has been asked
to testify.
Economic data and Fed speakers: Once again, there are no data
points to distract investors from the political roller coaster.
St. Louis Fed President James Bullard questioned the need for a
June rate increase
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/feds-bullard-questions-need-for-june-rate-hike-2017-05-19),
citing a slowdown in the U.S. economy during the first half of the
year. Bullard isn't a voting member of the Fed policy committee
this year.
Moving stocks: Deere shares (DE) jumped 7.7% after earnings and
sales beat Wall Street forecasts
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/deeres-stock-surges-after-big-profit-and-sales-beats-raised-outlook-2017-05-19).
Earnings from Campbell Soup Co.(CPB) were below expectations,
sending shares down 2.1%.
Shares of Autodesk Inc.(ADSK) jumped 16% as the company said its
shift to a subscription-based software model was going well.
Dynegy Inc. shares (DYN) soared 23%, and headed to a three-month
high after reports that the power producer received a buyout offer
from Vistra Energy(VST).
Also in the retail sector, Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) rose 2.8%
after earnings and sales met forecasts
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ross-shares-higher-after-eps-beats-expectations-sales-meet-forecast-2017-05-18).
Shares of Foot Locker Inc.(FL) slid 16% after
weaker-than-expected first-quarter results.
Shares of Under Armour Inc.(UAA) looked to snap a seven-session
losing streak and were last up 0.6%.
McKesson Corp.(MCK) shares rallied after the health-care supply
chain management company topped earnings expectation
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/mckesson-shares-surge-after-earnings-outlook-top-street-view-2017-05-18)
late Thursday.
Read:Only two S&P 500 companies passed this
sales-and-earnings test
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/only-two-sp-500-companies-passed-this-sales-and-earnings-test-2017-05-11)
Shares of Applied Materials Inc.(AMAT) rose 0.6% after the
microchip-materials maker's results and outlook topped Wall Street
estimates late Thursday
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/applied-materials-shares-rise-on-earnings-beat-strong-outlook-2017-05-18).
Read:Bill Ackman has 'something to prove' after Valeant mistake
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bill-ackman-has-something-to-prove-after-valeant-mistake-2017-05-18)
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bill-ackman-has-something-to-prove-after-valeant-mistake-2017-05-18)Other
markets: European stocks end up across the board
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/european-stocks-start-digging-out-of-trump-inspired-rout-2017-05-19),
and the FTSE 100 index
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/uk-stocks-break-2-day-losing-streak-after-pounds-mini-flash-crash-2017-05-19)
snapped a two-day losing streak. In Asia , stocks finished mostly
higher.
The dollar traded lower across the board, with the U.S. Dollar
Index down 0.7%, and the British pound recapturing the $1.30 level
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-pound-looks-set-for-significant-further-upside-now-that-its-regained-130-2017-05-18)
it lost late Thursday after a mini "flash crash," which sent it to
as low as $1.2888 within seconds.
Read:The pound looks set for 'significant further upside' now
that it's regained $1.30
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-pound-looks-set-for-significant-further-upside-now-that-its-regained-130-2017-05-18)
Gold prices
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-futures-hit-pause-as-stocks-improve-but-weekly-advance-on-track-2017-05-19)
settled up less than 0.1% at $1,253.60 an ounce, while oil prices
added to gains, with West Texas Intermediate crude prices trading
above the $50-a-barrel mark
(http://www.marketwatch.com/story/optimism-ahead-of-opec-meeting-drives-further-gains-for-oil-2017-05-19).
--Barbara Kollmeyer in Madrid contributed to this article.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 19, 2017 14:01 ET (18:01 GMT)
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