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S&P 500 Climbs as Tech Rallies, Retailers Rebound After Fed Minutes

Published 05/25/2022, 01:52 PM
Updated 05/25/2022, 03:47 PM
© Reuters

© Reuters

By Yasin Ebrahim

Investing.com -- The S&P 500 climbed Wednesday, after swinging between gains and losses as the Federal Reserve's May meeting minutes showed the central bank was keen to move quick on rate hikes to allow breathing room on tightening later this year.

The S&P 500 rose 1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1%, or 227 points, the Nasdaq was up 1.6%.

"[P]articipants judged that it was important to move expeditiously to a more neutral monetary policy stance," the minutes showed. Front loading rate hikes would allow the central bank breathing later this year to consider a policy readjustment later this year. 

"Many participants judged that expediting the removal of policy accommodation would leave the Committee well positioned later this year to assess the effects of policy firming and the extent to which economic developments warranted policy adjustments," according to the minutes. 

Consumer discretionary stocks were the outperforming sector as Nordstrom's quarterly results helped improve sentiment on retailers.

Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN) reported a wider than expected loss in the first quarter, but revenue jumped to pre-pandemic levels to top Wall Street expectations, sending its shares more than 13% higher.

“JWN has demographics and product category skew advantages at this point in the re-open,” said Credit Suisse, but also flagged concerns about the uncertain economic backdrop of retailers in the second of half of the year.

Dick’s Sporting Goods (NYSE:DKS) reported a softer outlook for the full year, but first-quarter results beat on both the top and bottom lines. Its shares gained 10%.

Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ:URBN) also reported record sales that overshadowed weaker-than-expected earnings and the impact of rising costs. Wall Street also pointed to strength in the retailer’s Anthropologie and Free People Movement brands.

“Despite the miss…sales at Anthro and FP Movement continue to perform well due to demand for apparel, dresses, and fashion,” B. Riley said in a note. “We continue to believe that URBN has upside as Anthro is seeing a recovery as consumers look for fashion and occassionwear.”

Bath & Body Works (NYSE:BBWI), Under Armour (NYSE:UAA), and Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL) were among the biggest gainers, while a climb in Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) also supported the sector.

Housing stocks, led by Toll Brothers (NYSE:TOL), were also in ascendency, shrugging off recent data pointing to a slowdown in the housing market.

Toll Brothers reported better-than-expected quarterly results, buoyed by strong demand for housing, though the home builder highlighted the impact of rising mortgage rates and softer macroeconomic conditions.

Lennar (NYSE:LEN), PulteGroup Inc (NYSE:PHM), and TRI Pointe Homes (NYSE:TPH) were higher.

Technology, meanwhile, cut some losses as big tech including Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) moved off session lows. 

NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) was up more than 5% ahead of its quarterly results due after the market closes.

In other news, Beyond Meat (NASDAQ:BYND) jumped more than 13% after the meatless company announced an endorsement deal with influencer Kim Kardashian.

Latest comments

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Tomorrow will be all red when investors realize that the fed just announced interest rate hikes.
what a sham! pretend to put rates up so you can reduce them later. RIP USA
The "late trade" fraud is as predictable as the sunset.  I don't wish anyone hard times, but it's going to bring a smile to my face when this laughable excuse for a market finally crashes after years of fraud and criminal manipulation.
sharpen your horns bulls. It's about to be our time again
Trade it both ways and profit twice as much! Buy the hills and buy the valleys.
Hill
pubg charging
2PM sharp and the FRAUD goes pedal to the metal.  Predictable enough for you?  Flagrant enough for you?  Greatest financial farce in history, and BIGGEST INVESTMENT JOKE IN THE WORLD.
go away...
lol! a market rally when profits are declining??? where would you like Mitchel to go? Fantasy world with the rest of the bulls? lol
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