Fresh Records for NASDAQ, S&P
The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ ticked higher on Thursday after Alphabet’s latest quarterly results came in better than expected.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average remained in the red 189.12 points, to 44,821.17, bogged down by shares of IBM slipping 8% after its second-quarter software revenue missed expectations.
The S&P 500 index forged ahead 12.84 points to 6,371.75, another intraday high.
The NASDAQ changed gears and jumped 42.04 points to 21,062.05, bolstered by a 1.5% move higher in Alphabet shares after the Google parent posted a second-quarter earnings and revenue beat.
Along with IBM, gains were kept in check by declines in Tesla, which fell 8% after auto revenue fell for a second straight quarter.
Investors also turned their attention to the ongoing feud between President Donald Trump and the Federal Reserve.
The White House said that President Donald Trump will visit the Fed on Thursday, escalating his pressure campaign against Chairman Jerome Powell.
This is the first time in nearly two decades that an American president will make an official trip to the central bank.
Stocks were also helped by a Financial Times report that the U.S. was inching closer to a trade deal with the European Union. Bloomberg confirmed the progress, citing diplomats briefed on the talks. This trade deal would raise tariffs to 15% on imports from the EU.
Prices for the 10-year treasury dipped, raising yields to 4.41% from Wednesday’s 4.37%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gained $1.10 to $66.35 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices handed back $21.40 to $3,376.20 U.S. an ounce.
