Dow Logs New High Even as Tech Underperforms
The Dow Jones Industrial Average resumed its record-setting advance on Thursday, even as the technology sector underperformed amid a sell-off in Broadcom (AVGO) and CrowdStrike (CRWD) shares.The Dow rose 1.7% to 51,561.9, notching a fresh closing high after falling on Wednesday for the first time in six sessions. The S&P 500 gained 0.4% to 7,584.3, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.1% to 26,831.Barring tech and consumer staples, all sectors ended in the green, led by healthcare.In company news, Broadcom shares tumbled nearly 13%, the second-worst performer on the S&P 500 as the company's artificial intelligence revenue outlook fell short of the market's bullish expectations.The company's decision not to upgrade its 2027 guidance for AI sales apparently disappointed investors, especially as the chip designer reported strong semiconductor demand for its fiscal second quarter, UBS Securities analysts said.CrowdStrike reported strong fiscal first-quarter results amid accelerating demand for AI, but questions around performance sustainability remain, BofA Securities said. The stock fell 3.8%.Ciena (CIEN) plunged nearly 14%, the steepest decline on the S&P 500, despite providing an upbeat fiscal third-quarter revenue outlook. The networking systems and software company's results topped market estimates in the prior three-month period."AI and cybersecurity remain important long-term themes, but popular themes can carry heavy expectations," Ruben Dalfovo, investment strategist at Saxo Bank, said in a report. "In a hot market, even excellent earnings may need to bring their own fire extinguisher."UnitedHealth (UNH) climbed 5.2%, the top gainer on the Dow, after BofA Securities upgraded its rating on the stock to buy from neutral.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 3% at $93.19 a barrel in Thursday late-afternoon trade, while Brent fell 2.6% to $95.30.Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire, subject to Iran-backed Hezbollah ending all fire and evacuating its operatives from the South Litani Sector, according to a joint statement from the US, Israel and Lebanon released Wednesday.But just hours after the deal, Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters launched strikes, CNN reported."News that Israel and Lebanon agreed on a ceasefire could potentially open the door for talks to advance," ING Bank said in a report on Thursday. "Every day that passes without a resumption of oil flows (through the Strait of Hormuz) leaves the market increasingly vulnerable. This increases the pressure to strike a deal."In economic news, job cut announcements in May hit the highest for the month since 2020, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said Thursday, while US weekly applications for unemployment insurance rose unexpectedly."On top of the headline AI story, we're seeing a sharp rise in cuts tied to acquisitions and mergers and a jump in bankruptcy-related losses, which tells me companies are restructuring aggressively as they reposition for an AI-driven economy," Andy Challenger, the firm's chief revenue officer, said in a statement. "The labor market is being reshaped by technology in real time."The Challenger report arrives a day before the May nonfarm payrolls release. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect 85,000 new jobs, down from 115,000 in April, with the unemployment rate seen holding at 4.3%.US Treasury yields were lower, with the 10-year rate down 2.4 basis points at 4.48%, and the two-year rate falling three basis points to 4.06%.Gold was last up 0.9% at $4,507 per troy ounce, while silver rose 0.8% to $74.31 per ounce.
