Stocks opened lower Monday, with investors cautious ahead of tomorrow's release of the October Consumer Price Index (CPI) report. However, the blue chip Dow Jones Industrial Average managed to outperform and close higher on the day thanks to a solid showing from aerospace giant Boeing (BA).
After nabbing their second weekly win last Friday, the major benchmarks made modest moves Monday. Both the Nasdaq Composite (-0.2% to 13,767) and the S&P 500 (-0.1% to 4,411) ended marginally lower.
The Dow, on the other hand, rose 0.2% to 34,337, amid strength in blue chip stock Boeing. Shares of the aerospace giant climbed 4.0% after a Bloomberg report indicated China could lift its freeze on buying Boeing aircraft. Additionally, the company landed two big deals at this week's Dubai Air Show: a $52 billion order from long-haul carrier Emirates and the purchase of 30 787-9 Dreamliners from low-cost air carrier FlyDubai.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Nvidia's on a nine-day win streak
Nvidia (NVDA) was another notable mover, with the mega-cap stock adding 0.6%. The chipmaker is on a nine-day win streak, with today's upside coming after the company unveiled its H200 graphics processing unit (GPU). According to Nvidia, the new GPU will offer "faster, larger memory to fuel the acceleration of generative AI [artificial intelligence] and large language models."
October CPI ahead
Still, it's Tuesday's inflation data that remains top of mind for investors. The next CPI report will be released ahead of tomorrow's open and falling gas prices will likely put downward pressure on headline inflation, says BofA Securities economist Stephen Juneau. "[W]e forecast headline CPI rose by 0.2% month-over-month, which would be a meaningful deceleration from the 0.4% print in September." The economist expects core CPI will remain unchanged at 0.3%.
Market participants are also keeping an eye on any headlines coming from Capitol Hill. The government is at risk of shutting down at midnight this Friday, November, 17, if lawmakers don't pass a spending measure.
Over the weekend, Moody's Investors Services lowered its U.S. credit rating outlook to Negative from Stable, citing "political polarization within U.S. Congress," which "raises the risk that successive governments will not be able to reach consensus on a fiscal plan to slow the decline in debt affordability."
If this sounds familiar, it should. It's one of the reasons Fitch Ratings gave when it downgraded the U.S. credit rating in August.
The good news for investors: While this could create some short-term volatility in stocks, government shutdowns historically have not had much impact on long-term returns.
Related content
- Get Costco's Early Black Friday Deals
- When Is the Next Fed Meeting?
- What Are the Capital Gains Tax Rates for 2023 vs. 2024?
-
Stock Market Today: Trump Tariff Threats Keep Pressure on StocksThe president warned of 25% tariffs being levied on automobiles, semiconductor chips and pharmaceutical imports.
-
7 of Warren Buffett's Biggest MissesWarren Buffett's investing wins are highly regarded across Wall Street, but no one can bat a thousand. Here are some of Buffett's biggest misses.
-
Stock Market Today: Trump Tariff Threats Keep Pressure on Stocks
The president warned of 25% tariffs being levied on automobiles, semiconductor chips and pharmaceutical imports.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Gain to Start the Short WeekStocks struggled for direction Tuesday, though Intel made a beeline higher on M&A buzz.
-
Stock Market Today: It's Mostly Onward and Upward for EquitiesThe major U.S. equity indexes were mixed Friday but closed an eventful week for earnings and data modestly higher.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Pop on Time-Delayed TariffsAll three major U.S. equity indexes rallied to intraday highs following President Trump's latest trade moves.
-
Stock Market Today: Markets Turn Lower on Nasty Inflation SurpriseEquities sold off after a hot reading on consumer price inflation pushed back rate cuts to autumn or year-end.
-
Stock Market Today: Markets Reflect Elevated UncertaintyInvestors and traders as well as CEOs and central bankers continue to adjust to a new administration in Washington, D.C.
-
Stock Market Today: Nasdaq Leads Monday With Its 190-Point GainMarket participants took a glass-half-full approach to Trump's latest tariff news.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Swing Lower as Inflation Fears RiseThe latest consumer sentiment data showed near-term inflation expectations rose to their highest level since November 2023.
