Articles in this Cluster
04-08-2025
The Dow Jones Industrial Average formed a bearish double top near 45,000, signaling potential downside as momentum fades. Bank of America’s Paul Ciana targets initial support around 42,500 (just below the 200-day SMA), with additional Fibonacci support near 41,800 and 40,800. Broader market signals also weakened: many indices hit resistance, the S&P 500’s 20-day MA streak ended, and BTIG sees S&P support near 6,100. Macro concerns intensified after weak jobs data raised recession fears, though markets partially rebounded Monday. Overall, technicians see near-term downside risk with the burden on bulls to defend support.
04-08-2025
Asia-Pacific stocks were mixed Monday as investors digested new U.S. tariffs, a soft U.S. jobs report, and rising odds of a Fed rate cut next month. Japan led declines with the Nikkei 225 down over 2% and the yen slightly weaker. China and Hong Kong opened lower, while South Korea ticked higher; Australia slipped modestly. India opened firmer, with the Nifty 50 and Sensex up. Oil prices edged down after OPEC+ announced a 547,000 bpd production increase for September, amid oversupply concerns. Spot gold dipped on rate-cut expectations, though Citi raised its 3-month target to $3,500. U.S. futures were little changed after Wall Street fell Friday on growth worries.
04-08-2025
U.S. jobs data showed growing weakness: July payrolls rose 73,000, unemployment ticked up to 4.2%, and May–June figures were revised down by 258,000. President Trump fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, alleging manipulation, drawing bipartisan criticism and comparisons to opaque data practices abroad. Markets sold off sharply, with the S&P 500 posting its worst day since May amid concerns that new Aug. 7 tariffs could further weigh on hiring and growth. In other markets news: China’s BYD saw its first monthly delivery drop of 2025; robotaxis are advancing with Waymo leading in the U.S. and several players active in China; and Singapore’s stock market is rallying to record highs, with momentum expected to continue.
04-08-2025
Jim Cramer says last week’s market action showed broad weakness despite earnings that don’t justify a big selloff, pointing to a likely drift rather than a crash unless tariff headlines and speculation cool. Data-center plays were the lone clear winners, powered by AI and power constraints: Microsoft surged on stunning Azure growth tied to OpenAI momentum, while Amazon fell on perceived AWS slowdown, underinvestment, and reliance on in-house chips; Cramer still expects AWS to reaccelerate with Nvidia’s next-gen chips and possible AI M&A. Oracle, GE Vernova, and Constellation benefited from hyperscaler power needs; Caterpillar and Eaton tie into data centers, reshoring, and infrastructure. DoorDash and Roblox impressed; S&P Global could gain from an IPO revival amid CoreWeave and Figma’s tight-float pops, though Cramer criticized Figma’s underpricing and ensuing speculation. He’s tempted by Altria’s compounding record. On the downside, classic defensives (P&G, Colgate, McCormick, Bristol Myers) hitting lows contradict a recession narrative despite a weak jobs report and falling yields. Cramer expects Palantir to fuel more speculation and sees a market that wants to drift lower short term but not collapse, with Magnificent Seven divergences central to sentiment.
04-08-2025
European stocks rose despite a Swiss market dip after the U.S. announced 39% tariffs on Switzerland. The Stoxx 600 closed up 0.8%, with Germany’s DAX +1.4%, France’s CAC 40 +1.1%, and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 +0.7% on strong bank gains. Switzerland’s SMI fell 0.2% after paring deeper losses as the government pledged to keep negotiating with the U.S. beyond the Aug. 7 deadline and avoid countermeasures. Analysts warned the tariffs could hit lower-end Swiss watches, machinery and tool makers—especially smaller firms—while pharma appears exempt; risks include recession and deflationary pressure on the SNB.
U.K. lenders rallied after a Supreme Court ruling on mis-sold car finance avoided the worst-case scenario: Lloyds jumped 8%, Close Brothers surged over 20%, and Barclays gained, though an FCA consultation on an industry-wide redress scheme estimated at £9–£18 billion leaves some overhang. Overall sentiment improved after Friday’s sell-off.
04-08-2025
Jim Cramer sees a weaker jobs report boosting odds of Fed rate cuts and supporting stocks. He recommends buying Wells Fargo and Capital One on recent pullbacks, while suggesting new investors hold off on Goldman Sachs after its run-up. He remains bullish on Apple after strong earnings, tempered tariff concerns, and growing AI investment plans, and is optimistic about the Apple Card’s future as Apple nears a new issuing partner.
04-08-2025
Singapore’s Straits Times Index has entered a “baby bull” market, up over 23% since April 9 and nearly 10% year-to-date, driven by safe-haven appeal, strong SGD, high dividends, and policy support. Institutional interest is rising as sector leadership broadens from telecoms and utilities to REITs and consumer names. Government-led construction spending and the MAS’s S$5 billion EMDP to boost small- and mid-cap liquidity are key catalysts. JPMorgan sees the STI at 4,500 (base) and 5,000 (bull); Morgan Stanley expects a valuation re-rating and says MSCI Singapore could double in five years on reforms, IPOs, and digital/AI themes. Risks include a small-cap “liquidity trap,” global trade tensions, and competition from other financial hubs.
04-08-2025
U.S. stocks rebounded Monday after Friday’s tariff- and jobs-driven sell-off. The Dow rose 529 points (1.2%), the S&P 500 gained 1.3%, and the Nasdaq jumped 1.8%, with strategists calling it a bounce after a sharp drop. Markets remain cautious amid weak jobs data, heavy revisions, and new “reciprocal” tariffs from the Trump administration. The EU postponed planned retaliatory tariffs for six months as talks continue. Investors are watching potential U.S.-China trade progress, a light data calendar, and earnings from Palantir and AMD. Notable movers: Figma sank ~19% as IPO enthusiasm cooled; Idexx surged 26% on strong results; Fortrea jumped 21% on an upgrade; American Eagle rallied ~19% after Trump praised its ad campaign. Bank of America warned bank stocks could face more pressure if labor market weakness persists. August’s seasonally weak backdrop looms for major indexes. SPY trading volume spiked Friday amid volatility.
04-08-2025
Midday movers: Figma plunged 22% as IPO gains faded; Fortrea jumped 21% on a Baird upgrade; Idexx surged 26% after beating Q2 estimates; American Eagle rose ~20% after Trump praised its controversial Sydney Sweeney ad; TG Therapeutics fell ~15% on an earnings miss; Joby Aviation rallied 20% on a $125 million deal to buy Blade’s passenger business; Berkshire Hathaway slipped ~3% as operating profit fell and it remained a net stock seller; Amphenol rose 3% after agreeing to buy CommScope’s business for $10.5 billion, sending CommScope up 75%; Loews gained 2% on stronger earnings; Energizer leapt 24% on a revenue beat and raised guidance; Wayfair jumped 11% after topping Q2 expectations; Tyson Foods rose 4% on an earnings and revenue beat; On Semiconductor dropped 11% on soft Q3 guidance; Bruker fell ~6% after cutting its outlook; Spotify gained 6% on premium price hikes; Tesla rose 1.7% after its board approved Elon Musk’s $29 billion stock-based pay package.
04-08-2025
The Economist examines McKinsey’s waning dominance as it approaches its centenary. Once synonymous with elite strategy advice and CEO pipelines, the firm now faces eroding prestige due to scandals, client backlash, and intensified competition. Its generalist model struggles amid specialized, data-heavy needs and the rise of tech-driven, implementation-focused rivals. Pricing power and talent allure have declined as high-profile controversies dent trust, while big tech, private equity, and boutique firms poach both clients and recruits. McKinsey is trying to adapt—investing in analytics, execution, and new service lines—but the article questions whether these moves can restore its edge in a market reshaped by AI, regulation, and a demand for measurable outcomes.
04-08-2025
The article explains that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that compiles the monthly US jobs report using two large surveys: a household survey for unemployment and demographics, and a business payroll survey (CES) for employment, hours, and earnings. Initial estimates are revised as more data arrive and seasonal factors are recalculated, with routine updates in the following two months and annual revisions. Recent downward revisions to May and June jobs figures were sizable but not unprecedented, with larger corrections seen during the pandemic and in other past periods (e.g., 2009). Claims by Donald Trump that the revisions are a “scam” or historically large are incorrect; revisions are a normal, transparent part of the statistical process, and the BLS safeguards data and methods to prevent manipulation.
04-08-2025
CNN’s Stephen Collinson argues that President Trump’s firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer and efforts to undermine the Federal Reserve’s independence reflect an authoritarian push to reshape reality around favorable economic narratives. By attacking trusted institutions and casting doubt on jobs data after weak employment numbers and downward revisions, Trump risks eroding investor and public confidence, destabilizing decision-making that relies on credible statistics, and damaging the long-term integrity of U.S. economic governance. Allies defend the moves as improving “transparency,” while critics warn of politicized data, global credibility loss, and broader attempts by Trump to centralize power and purge experts, echoing patterns seen in countries where manipulated statistics fueled crises.
