Dow rises 80 pts as investors await Warsh speech, chip stocks retreat
Wall Street’s main indexes opened muted on Friday as the AI-driven rally lost momentum, with investors turning their attention to Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s first speech at the central bank’s annual Jackson Hole symposium.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 85 points while the S&P 500 was up 0.09%. The Nasdaq Composite was almost unchanged with a 0.01% decline.
Investors are looking for clues on the interest-rate outlook after mixed inflation data and recent efforts by the US Treasury to stabilize bond markets.
Warsh speech takes center stage
Warsh’s Jackson Hole appearance is the main focus for markets at the end of a week dominated by corporate earnings and economic data.
His speech is expected to provide investors with greater insight into how the Federal Reserve approaches inflation and interest rates.
Money markets were pricing in about a 36% chance of a rate hike in September, according to CME’s FedWatch tool. Separately, Fed funds futures indicated roughly a 64% probability that the central bank will keep rates unchanged at its next meeting.
The monetary policy outlook has become more uncertain following mixed inflation readings.
Investors will also assess the final University of Michigan consumer sentiment reading for August and comments from Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee.
The S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow were all on track for weekly gains after Thursday’s rally. The indexes had come under pressure last week as rising bond yields weighed on equities.
Chip stocks pull back after Nvidia rally
Technology and semiconductor stocks were weaker in trading after a strong advance on Thursday following Nvidia’s latest earnings report and outlook.
Nvidia shares slipped 0.2%, while Micron Technology and Intel fell more than 1.5% and 0.5% respectively.
Marvell Technology dropped 7.17% after investors raised concerns about the timing of revenue from its AI chip agreement with Alphabet’s Google.
Marvell increased its 2027 revenue forecast, but its current-quarter guidance for non-GAAP gross margin disappointed investors.
Nvidia’s strong forecast had reinforced expectations that AI-related demand remains robust and helped drive technology stocks higher during Thursday’s session.
The Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500 and technology sector each recorded their strongest daily performance since Aug. 4.
The pullback in semiconductor shares suggests investors are now looking for further catalysts following Nvidia’s results, while questions remain around the pace of future growth from AI infrastructure investment.
Gap gains while PayPal and Ulta fall
Outside the technology sector, individual stocks were driven by company-specific developments.
Gap shares climbed 18.8% in trading after the retailer appointed Michael Francis as CEO of Old Navy and raised its annual profit forecast.
The leadership change is aimed at improving performance at the company’s largest brand.
PayPal shares fell 12.5 after reports that a consortium involving buyout firm Advent and payments company Stripe had abandoned its pursuit of the payments firm.
Ulta Beauty slipped 3.1% after comparable-sales growth weakened in the second quarter.
Asian markets ended mixed, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 rising 0.41% while South Korea’s Kospi and China’s CSI 300 declined.
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