Stocks

Market Highlights: Dow Jones and Bitcoin Surge, Nvidia Resumes Growth Potential

Published December 5, 2024

Overnight, Dow Jones futures saw little change, as did S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures.

On Wednesday, the stock market experienced a robust rally, with all major indexes achieving new highs spurred by impressive earnings from Salesforce.com (CRM), Marvell Technology (MRVL), and several tech companies. Software stocks, in particular, demonstrated strong performance.

As Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell provided an optimistic outlook on the economy, the stock market slightly extended its gains. Powell's statements also positively impacted bitcoin, where he referred to the cryptocurrency as "digital gold."

Nvidia (NVDA) managed to surpass a significant resistance level, raising questions about whether this AI leader is poised for another growth wave.

Multiple stocks, including Confluent (CFLT), HubSpot (HUBS), Snowflake (SNOW), Roku (ROKU), SharkNinja (SN), Powell Industries (POWL), and Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) showed buy signals.

Market Performance Insights

As of the latest updates, Dow Jones futures appear stable compared to fair value, with S&P 500 futures making slight declines and Nasdaq 100 futures dropping by 0.1%.

The 10-year Treasury yield increased to 4.2%.

It's essential to note that overnight movements in Dow futures and others may not directly affect actual trading operations in the subsequent market session.

Recent Earnings Results

Last night, companies such as SentinelOne (S), nCino (NCNO), Synopsys (SNPS), AeroVironment (AVAV), and American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) released their earnings, but all faced significant declines in after-hours trading. Some of these stocks, including Synopsys, SentinelOne, and nCino, may be approaching critical buy points.

Stock Market Overview

The stock market displayed a strong uptick led by the Nasdaq on Wednesday. This rally was fueled by beneficial earnings from tech firms and weak economic reports, paired with Powell's encouraging remarks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.7%, the S&P 500 index rose 0.6%—with Salesforce stock surging 11%—and the Nasdaq composite skyrocketed by 1.3%. All these indexes reached record highs during the day.

Meanwhile, the small-cap Russell 2000 increased by 0.4%, inching closer to all-time highs.

Despite a strong showing for tech growth stocks, sectors like energy and commodities faced downturns, and homebuilders struggled, even as Treasury yields softened.

U.S. crude oil prices dropped by 2% to $68.54 per barrel.

The 10-year Treasury yield decreased by four basis points to 4.18% after having reached 4.28% earlier in the day. Reports from the ADP Employment Report and the ISM services index were both weaker than expected for November.

Impact of Powell's Comments on Bitcoin

Bitcoin saw a 3.45% increase, reaching $98,972.09 following Powell's acknowledgment of it as "digital gold." The cryptocurrency is now approaching its late November peak of $99,768. Powell also mentioned that bitcoin does not currently compete with the dollar, which indicates a lack of concern from the Fed regarding this digital asset. Additionally, former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins, who has been supportive of cryptocurrencies, was appointed to lead the financial markets watchdog by President-elect Trump.

ETF Movements

Among growth ETFs, the Innovator IBD 50 ETF surged by 1.15%. The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF increased by 3.9%, with Salesforce as its largest holding, alongside Confluent, HubSpot, SentinelOne, and nCino. The VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF rose by 1.7%, with Nvidia positioned as the top component.

The ARK Innovation ETF advanced by 3.1%, while the ARK Genomics ETF climbed 1.7%. Conversely, the SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF fell by 1.45%, and the Energy Select SPDR ETF lost 2.4% of its value.

The Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund gained 0.4%, while the Financial Select SPDR ETF dipped by 0.4%.

Nvidia: Potential for Further Growth

Nvidia's stock rose by 3.5% to 145.14, overcoming the 21-day moving average and a buy point at 140.76. Investors might consider utilizing the 150 level as an add-on entry point based on recent trading patterns.

Additionally, Nvidia appears to be riding the wave of success from Marvell, which saw a significant 23.2% jump following its earnings release.

Despite Nvidia's substantial increase since late 2022, its valuation on a forward price-earnings basis remains attractive due to ongoing strong growth. This raises questions about whether the AI powerhouse is positioned for yet another surge. The key is surpassing its current trading range.

Market Strategy Going Forward

The current stock market rally seems to be solid, with technology stocks leading the charge once more.

Several stocks established breakout points or presented conventional entry points on Wednesday, including many mentioned above. Numerous top performers made positive movements off the 21-day line or emerged from short consolidations, providing great opportunities for investors.

It's beneficial for investors to monitor their watchlists to identify promising setups in the market. This allows for strategic engagement with market winners, but caution is wise as new entries carry increased risks. If already significantly invested, there’s no urgency to acquire every stock flashing green indicators. Consider freeing up capital by reducing positions in underperforming stocks or securing profits from current winners.

Stay informed by regularly checking the market direction and leading sectors, while also reviewing leading stocks.

DowJones, Bitcoin, Nvidia, Stocks, Market