Strong Quarterly Earnings Fuel Market Optimism Despite Inflation Concerns, Slowing Economic Growth: This Week In The Market

Author: Piero Cingari | April 26, 2024 04:28pm

After four consecutive weeks of declines, tech stocks — as tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) — experienced their best week in 2024.

The stocks were buoyed by reduced geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and robust corporate earnings, even as persistent inflation signaled the need for caution.

U.S. economic growth slowed in the first quarter, with key inflation metrics monitored by the Federal Reserve rising unexpectedly, delaying discussions on interest rate cuts.

Tesla Inc. had its strongest week since January 2023, despite recent earnings and revenue misses, driven by optimism over its future cheaper models and Robotaxi initiatives.

Energy stocks, this year's best performers, faltered following weaker-than-expected earnings Friday from Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:XOM) and Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX).

Chart Of The Day: Tech Stocks Record Best Week Of The Year Following Their Worst In Years

Tesla Rebound Ahead?

Billionaire Ron Baron said Tesla’s stock has reached its lowest point and is set for a significant surge. Despite the stock’s 34% drop this year, Baron remains confident in its recovery, attributing the fall to temporary concerns rather than fundamental issues.

Meta's Weaker Outlook

Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) surpassed first-quarter earnings forecasts with revenue of $36.45 billion, marking a 27% increase year-over-year. Earnings per share reached $4.71, outperforming estimates. The company projects weaker-than-expected revenue and higher costs, which negatively impacted the stock.

Treasury Yields Spike

U.S. Treasury yields hit a six-month high, significantly impacting mortgage rates and raising economic concerns. The 30-year Treasury note yield rose to 4.78%, prompting mortgage rates to increase to 7.24%. Experts warn the growing federal deficit could destabilize financial markets.

AI's 1995 Moment

Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives hails artificial intelligence as the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” following strong earnings from Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:MSFT) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL). He compared this transformative phase to the pivotal tech moment of 1995.

Musk Critiques TikTok Ban

Elon Musk suggested that the potential U.S. ban of TikTok sets a dangerous precedent for government control over app availability in the name of national security. Such moves could contradict principles of free speech, raising broader implications for social media and internet freedom.

Dimon Sees Stagflation

Bank of America analysts suggested 2024 could be a reverse reflection of 2015, with potential Federal Reserve misjudgments on rate cuts amid inflation pressures. JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon compared today’s scenario to the 1970s, emphasizing significant risks from fiscal deficits and inflationary policies affecting market stability.

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Posted In: CVX GOOGL META MSFT QQQ XOM