Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
NYSE
Stock futures came slightly under pressure Wednesday night after a continued market rotation powered the Dow Jones Industrial Average to fresh highs.
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 26 points, or nearly 0.1%. The S&P futures shed 0.2%, while Nasdaq 100 futures declined about 0.3%.
Wednesday again saw a divergence between technology stocks and other pockets of the market as value-oriented sectors such as health care outperformed. The rotation has been a relief for some investors looking for a broadening out of the market, but it could also signal growing caution away from risk-on assets.
The Dow on Wednesday hit its first record close above 48,000, putting the 30-stock index on pace for its best weekly performance since late June. The S&P 500 settled up slightly above the flatline to post four straight days of gains, meanwhile, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite closed the day in the red.
“We have rebounded in dramatic fashion from the April lows,” said Eric Teal, chief investment officer at Comerica Wealth Management. “Most importantly, the market is broadening out beyond just growth and technology, including industrials, financials, and healthcare. Small-cap stocks are also participating in the rally as lower short-term interest rates have been a harbinger for small-cap outperformance.”
Investors had been optimistic that the U.S. government shutdown — the longest in history — would end after lasting six weeks. The House of Representatives approved a short-term funding bill, by a vote of 222-209, ending the current impasse until at least the end of January. President Donald Trump has said he would sign it.
The extended stoppage caused investors to fly blind without key economic reports, such as the October jobs report and inflation data, and contributed to the market’s recent choppiness. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that these reports may ultimately never be released, and that the shutdown could lower fourth-quarter economic growth by up to 2 percentage points. Most economists expect minimal impact to U.S. GDP, however.
