New York – U.S. stocks experienced a decline on Tuesday, continuing their struggles in 2024. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 223 points, representing a 0.6% decrease. The S&P 500 dipped by 0.3%, while the Nasdaq Composite pulled back more than 0.1%.
The technology sector saw several stocks in the red, retracing the significant gains made on Monday. Unity Software’s share price dropped by 7.6% after the company announced plans to lay off approximately 25% of its workforce. Netflix also experienced a decline of just under 1% following a downgrade from Citi. Apple shares were down around 0.8%, and Tesla slumped by more than 2.5%.
However, there was some positive news in the market. Shares of Juniper Networks surged over 21% after a Wall Street Journal report suggested that Hewlett Packard Enterprise may acquire the networking hardware company in a deal worth approximately $13 billion.
In terms of sectors, healthcare emerged as the winner in the S&P 500, showing a 0.33% increase. Quincy Krosby, LPL Financial’s chief global strategist, commented on the market dynamics, stating, “We’re moving away from Big Tech, and we’re going into deeper parts of the market that had been actually unloved… For example, we’re seeing more buyers interested in healthcare. The broadening yesterday included the Russell 2000, and that’s helpful for the tone of the market.”
This shift in market sentiment came after a strong trading session for equities on the previous day. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite rallied, with mega-cap tech stocks bouncing back from previous declines. Nvidia even reached an all-time high.
Looking ahead, investors will closely analyze two crucial inflation readings to gain insights into the Federal Reserve’s potential rate cuts. The December consumer price index is scheduled for release on Thursday, followed by the producer price index on Friday.
In summary, U.S. stocks struggled on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all experiencing losses. The technology sector faced declines, while healthcare emerged as the top-performing sector. In the coming days, investors will focus on inflation data to better understand the Federal Reserve’s future actions.