The Dow Jones Industrial Average bounced back from steep losses and closed the session in the green on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell relieved some of the concerns about higher interest rates and inflation.
The blue-chip Dow wiped out a 360-point loss and closed 15.66 points higher, or 0.1%, at 31,537.35. The S&P 500 also reversed a 1.8% loss and ended the day 0.1% higher at 3,881.37.The Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.5% to 13,465.20 after dropping as much as 3.9% earlier. At its session low, the tech-heavy benchmark fell below its 50-day moving average, a key technical indicator, for the first time since Nov. 3 on an intraday basis.
The intraday turnaround came after Powell said in his testimony to Congress that inflation is still “soft” and the economic outlook is still “highly uncertain,” easing fears of a policy change by the central bank.
“The economy is a long way from our employment and inflation goals, and it is likely to take some time for substantial further progress to be achieved,” the Fed chief said in prepared remarks for the Senate Banking Committee.
Inflation fears have risen in recent weeks amid a sharp rise in bond yields as policymakers debate another round of economic relief. Investors worry that a spike in prices due to federal stimulus could force the central bank to raise short-term borrowing costs.
“The Fed is focused on employment and seems very willing to absorb higher inflation and excesses in financial market that brings financial instability in hopes of getting there,” Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer at Bleakley Advisory Group, said in a note. “But, as seen in the long end of the yield curve, the markets have a say here too and they are speaking loudly. Hopefully at some point Fed officials will listen.”
High-flying tech stocks, which came under pressure amid higher interest rates, pared losses after Powell’s remarks. Tesla closed 2.2% lower after sliding as much as 13% earlier. The electric car maker suffered a 9% decline in the previous session. Apple’s stock dipped just 0.1% after falling 6% earlier.
Energy and financials — two of the best-performing sectors this year — once again supported the market Tuesday as investors snap up names they think will benefit from an economic recovery. The energy sector gained 1.6%, bringing its 2021 rally to nearly 27%.
Jonathan Golub, Credit Suisse’s chief U.S. equity strategist, believes cyclical stocks will lead the market to new highs in the rest of the year on the back of earnings upside and optimism on the economic reopening.
“Rising rates — a benefit to Financials — and copper and oil prices — a boon for Industrials, Energy, and Materials — further augment this favorable backdrop,” Golub said in a note Tuesday.
Credit Suisse upped its S&P 500 year-end target to 4,300 from 4,200 previously. The new forecast represents a 11.5% rally from here.
Small caps were the relater underperformer with the Russell 2000 dropping 0.9% Tuesday, paring its February gained to 7.6%. These beaten-down value shares have been outperforming the S&P 500 in 2021 amid optimism toward the vaccine rollout and the economic reopening.
“The sell-off in tech darlings and much-loved small-caps could be interpreted as the beginnings of market jitters,” said Chris Larkin, managing director of trading and investing product at E-Trade. “That’s not to say that equities have run their course, it’s more like cyclical sectors like energy and financials are more attractive, while tech takes a backseat.”
The 10-year Treasury yield, which has risen steadily since the start of 2021, held steady on Tuesday around 1.36%. So far this month, the benchmark rate has moved up hefty 28 basis points. The 30-year yield touched a one-year high of 2.2% Monday. A basis point is 0.01%.
