Stock-index futures struggled for direction before the start of trade Wednesday, a day after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq carved out their first records in months, underscoring a rebound for stocks since an ugly decline in the last three months of 2018.
Investors continue to digest another round of fresh corporate earnings, including those from Dow components Boeing Co. and Caterpillar Inc.
How are benchmarks faring?
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average YMM9, +0.09% gained 26 points, or 0.1%, at 26,665, while S&P 500 index futures ESM9, +0.02% fell less than a point to 2,937.50, and Nasdaq-100 futures NQM9, +0.08% declined 1.75 points, or less than 0.1%, at 7,836.50.
On Tuesday, the S&P 500 index SPX, +0.88% added 25.71 points, or 0.9%, to 2,933.68, to close at its first record since Sept. 20, while the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, +1.32% gained 105.56 points, or 1.3%, to 8,120.82, marking its first all-time high since Aug. 29. The Dow DJIA, +0.55% meanwhile, advanced 145.34 points, or 0.6%, to 26,656.39, to stand less than 1% away from its record.
What’s driving the market?
Corporate quarterly results remain a central focus for Wall Street midweek. More than a fifth of the S&P 500 constituents have reported results, with nearly 80% of those companies producing earnings results that topped analysts consensus estimates, compared with about 65% in the fourth quarter, according to data from Refinitiv.
To be sure, that reflects lowered estimates heading into the quarter as worries about a recession and anemic growth outside of the U.S., perhaps, amplified by a trade spat between Washington and Beijing.
Setting the tone Wednesday were earnings from heavyweight Dow components, Boeing and Caterpillar, with Boeing BA, -0.31% shares falling 1.1% Wednesday after the aerospace firm announced core earnings-per-share that fell short of Wall Street expectations, while suspending guidance for 2019 and pausing its share-repurchase program.
On a brighter note, Caterpillar announced first-quarter earnings that topped estimates thanks to a tax benefit and higher-than-expected sales. Investors will pay close attention to management guidance during its 10 a.m. Eastern Time analyst call, as the firm’s global reach gives it a perspective on the health and trajectory of the global economy.
Against the backdrop of earnings, the record climb for markets Tuesday, however, failed to provide a significant catalyst for Asian markets, market participants point out, with that being viewed as a signal that some caution about the recent ascent remains.
Elsewhere, recent reports indicated that China may dial back on a cocktail of economic stimulus after better-than-expected growth, with that coming as negotiations on trade are expected to restart next week between U.S. and Chinese officials.
The negotiations will begin April 30 in Beijing, to be followed by a Chinese delegation, led by Liu He, that will travel to Washington for continued talks starting May 8.
Which other stocks are in focus?
Shares of Occidental Petroleum Corp. OXY, -1.09% fell 7.5% before the bell Wednesday, after the firm announced a $76-per-share takeover bid for Anadarko Petroleum Corp. APC, -0.11% in a half cash, half stock deal.
The offer comes after Chevron Corp. CVX, +0.10% had announced an agreement to buy Anadarko that would have valued the company at $65 per share.
AT&T Inc. T, +0.06% stock slid 0.8% in premarket action Wednesday, after the media and telecommunications giant fell short of first-quarter revenue expectations.
Shares of Northrop Grumman Corp. NOC, +3.44% edged 0.1% higher, after the defense and aerospace firm topped profit estimates for the first quarter, but fell short on revenue targets.
Boston Scientific Corp. BSX, +2.75% announced Wednesday morning that it missed first-quarter profit and revenue expectations. The stock fell 3.9% in premarket trade.
After Wednesday’s close, Microsoft Corp. MSFT, +1.36% Facebook Inc. FB, +1.29% Visa Inc. V, +0.79% as well as electric-car marker Tesla Inc. , TSLA, +0.44% are due to report results.
Restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. CMG, +0.11% and payment processor PayPal Holdings Inc. PYPL, +0.08% will also report after hours.
What are analysts saying?
“Apparently, we are stuck in a stock market rally that no one likes, as you would be troubled to find another record-breaking U.S. session that was received which such low-spirited appeal from Asian investors,” wrote Stephen Innes, head of trading at SPI Asset Management in a daily research note.
How are other markets and assets performing?
The Shanghai Composite SHCOMP, +0.09% gained a tepid 0.1% and the CSI 300 Index 000300, +0.28% rose 0.3%, while major European stock markets, as measured by the Stoxx Europe 600 index, SXXP, -0.02% were higher, up 0.2%.
Gold prices GCM9, +0.13% were trading at the flatline, while the ICE Dollar Index DXY, +0.07% was virtually unchanged at 97.65, holding just below a 22-month high touched on Tuesday in intraday trade.
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