U.S. stocks were solid on Thursday, taking a lull from earlier record highs as investors cheered chipmaker Arm's outlook and looked for fresh impetus in the latest company results.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) hovered near the flatline after the major benchmark ended just a few points away from reaching 5,000 for the first time in history. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) started slightly higher but has since fallen about 0.3%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq (^IXIC) rose 0.3%.
Stocks rose as strong economic data and upbeat earnings lifted spirits on Wall Street, helping the benchmark S&P 500 move closer to a key psychological level. But some investors question whether the gains can be sustained, given the concentration of giant stocks that are driving the rally.
ARM stock soared more than 55% on the strong sales outlook, raising hopes that AI and technology will continue to fuel the market. The chipmaker issued a surprisingly bullish forecast based on its expansion into new areas. Disney (DIS) stock was also buoyed, with shares up more than 11% as investors cheered the company's outperformance and deal with Taylor Swift and Fortnite maker Epic Games. gave.
Meanwhile, traders scaled back bets on a March interest rate cut following warnings from central bank officials. Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin is expected to make further comments on Thursday, but the subsequent weekly jobless claims report could also move the needle on policy expectations given December's blockbuster jobs report.
read more: Impact of Fed interest rate decisions on bank accounts, CDs, loans, and credit cards
Elsewhere, deflation fears in China were reignited after data showed consumer prices in the world's second-largest economy suffered their biggest fall since 2009 amid the global financial crisis.
Investors were also spooked by warnings from Danish shipping giant Maersk (AMKBY) about a slowdown in cargo shipments. The company's stock fell 15% after the company announced it would suspend stock buybacks.
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