S&P 500 reaches a new all-time high – London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

The U.S. stock market is experiencing another key day, with the S&P 500 reaching a new record, advancing approximately 0.70% to stand at 5760 points.

This momentum has been mirrored by other indices, such as the Nasdaq 100, which is up around 1.1% and trading at around 20200 points, reflecting a risk-taking environment globally, where European and Asian indices also posted gains during the day.

This performance is supported by U.S. economic data that exceeded expectations. In particular, durable goods orders remained unchanged, defying the expected correction, and jobless claims fell to their lowest level in several months. Additionally, second-quarter GDP growth was confirmed at a solid 3%, contributing to market optimism and supporting the record levels reached by the S&P 500.

Key Factors Behind the Record

The U.S. economic context has recently been favorable for the equity market. Weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fell to 218,000, marking a new four-month low. This figure, following the aggressive start of monetary policy normalization by the Fed, alongside second-quarter GDP confirmed at 3%, has strengthened the narrative of an economy that, while facing some challenges, continues to show resilience. These indicators have generated a positive market reaction, easing concerns about a more pronounced slowdown in economic growth.

Additionally, the Chinese Central Bank has also played a significant role by implementing a series of aggressive stimulus measures, the largest since the pandemic, in an effort to revitalize its economy amid deflationary pressures. The measures announced earlier this week included cuts in interest rates and reserve requirements, which injected confidence into global markets. Although these measures have been criticized by some analysts, the general sentiment has been positive, contributing to risk appetite for assets such as stocks.

Expectations and Risks Ahead

Despite the current optimism, there are risk factors that could affect the trajectory of markets in the coming weeks. One of the key events to watch will be the release of September’s U.S. labor data, with the nonfarm payroll (NFP) report scheduled for next week. The Federal Reserve (Fed) has focused its attention mainly on the labor market, and the evolution of these figures will be crucial in determining the next step in its monetary policy.

The Fed’s focus on employment data could bring back volatility factors soon, as any significant deviation from expectations could influence monetary policy decisions. Additionally, the start of the fourth quarter will mark the beginning of a new earnings season, a key period to assess whether the current record-high stock valuations are justified by corporate results.

Expectations for corporate earnings growth have diminished, with projections pointing to 5% earnings per share (EPS) growth for S&P 500 companies in the third quarter of 2024, down from 12% in the second quarter. This adjustment reflects a moderation in expectations as companies continue to navigate an environment of higher operating costs and still-elevated interest rates.

Conclusion

The new record for the S&P 500 reflects an economic and market environment that, while facing challenges, remains favorable for risk assets. Support from positive economic data and external stimuli, such as those from China, has been key to this rise. However, upcoming labor data and the earnings season will be crucial in determining the sustainability of this trend.

While expectations for earnings growth have moderated, markets seem confident that the resilience of the U.S. economy will allow stocks to continue advancing.