The First Slice for Wednesday, January 17, 2024

In the ever-fluctuating world of finance, the U.S. stock market recently witnessed a rollercoaster of events. Investors found themselves at a crossroads, balancing corporate earnings and the Federal Reserve’s stance on interest rates. Morgan Stanley’s stock took a hit, dropping 4.2%, as the bank reported a lower quarterly profit. In contrast, Goldman Sachs saw its stock rise by 0.7%, boasting a remarkable 51% increase in profit.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.6% lower.
The S&P 500 fell 0.4%.
The Nasdaq Composite finished down 0.2%.

The airline industry also faced turbulence, with Spirit Airlines plummeting by a staggering 47%. A federal judge blocked JetBlue Airways’ $3.8 billion acquisition of the ultra-low-cost carrier, siding with the U.S. Department of Justice’s argument that the deal would harm consumers. Apple, a tech giant, saw its stock drop by 1.2% as it responded to fierce competition in China with rare discounts on its iPhones, losing its status as the world’s most valuable firm to Microsoft.

The Federal Reserve’s stance on interest rates played a pivotal role in market sentiment. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller cautioned against a rush to cut interest rates, despite growing confidence in inflation meeting the Fed’s 2% target. This news led traders to adjust their expectations, delaying the anticipated rate cuts and causing U.S. Treasury yields to rise.

Despite these fluctuations, the S&P 500 remained close to its record high from January 2022, only down by about 1%. Investors continued to speculate on an early start to the Fed’s monetary policy easing cycle, even amid mixed inflation data and a lack of support among policymakers. UBS Global Research maintained a bullish outlook, raising its 2024 year-end target for the S&P 500 to 5,150 points, suggesting more than an 8% potential upside from current levels…….