Stocks rebound; technology rally leads Nasdaq to record high
NEW YORK—Technology companies soared Thursday as major U.S. stock indexes recovered the ground they lost a day earlier. The Nasdaq composite closed at another all-time high.
Big names like Apple and Microsoft and chipmakers including Intel all made big gains as investors remain optimistic about the technology sector even though much of the market has been shaken by escalating tensions between the U.S. and its trading partners, especially China.
Banks will begin reporting their second-quarter results Friday morning. Investors expect another round of strong profit growth for the whole market, but they’re especially optimistic about technology companies. They will announce their earnings later this month.
The S&P 500 index rise 24.27 points, or 0.9 percent, to 2,798.29. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 224.44 points, or 0.9 percent, to 24,924.89.
The Nasdaq jumped 107.30 points, or 1.4 percent, to 7,823.92. Its last record came on June 20.
The Russell 2000 index of smallerstocks added 6.61 points, or 0.4 percent, to 1,690.28.
Industrial companies also regained much of the ground they lost Wednesday, but energy companies and basic materials makers failed to rally. Defense contractors climbed after President Donald Trump advocated for more defense spending in the U.S. and Europe.
Several European leaders said NATO spending plans haven’t changed.
Software maker CA made the biggest gain in the technology sector soared after it accepted an offer from Broadcom worth $18.9 billion, or $44.50 per share. Its stock rocketed 18.7 percent to $44.15. Broadcom investors expressed their disapproval of the deal, which involves Broadcom taking on $18 billion in debt. The stock dropped 13.7 percent to $209.98.
The merry-go-round of potential media deals continued as Comcast offered to buy European pay-TV company Sky for $34 billion a day after Twenty-First Century Fox increased its own offer for Sky.
Fox already owns part of Sky, and while it tangles with Comcast, Comcast and Disney are also trying to buy Fox itself. Fox recently accepted Disney’s $71 billion offer. The New York Times reported Thursday that Comcast will focus on Sky and end its pursuit of Fox.
Sky’s stock rose 3.4 percent in London. In the U.S., Comcast rose 2.3 percent to $34.55 and Fox fell 0.9 percent to $47.38. Disney gained 0.2 percent to $108.25.
AT&T fell 1.3 percent in aftermarket trading after the Justice Department appealed a court ruling that allowed AT&T to buy Time Warner.
Stifel analyst Christopher Cull said Wall Street has viewed the company as a potential sale target for some time and investors feel that’s more likely without Schnatter in charge. Since Schnatter is still is largest shareholder, Cull doesn’t think that will happen.
Schnatter owns about 29 percent of the company’s stock, and the value of his stake jumped by $50.5 million to Thursday to about $507 million in total.
Stocks around the world slumped Wednesday after the Trump administration released a list of $200 billion in imports from China that it could hit with a 10 percent tax. China said it would retaliate if the tariffs take effect, and the dispute could impair global economic growth.
Benchmark U.S. crude dipped 0.1 percent to $70.33 a barrel in New York while Brent crude, used to price international oils, rose 1.4 percent to $74.45 per barrel in London.
U.S. crude dropped 5 percent Wednesday and Brent nosedived almost 7 percent as investors worried that the trade conflict will hurt the global economy. They also expect oil supplies to increase after Libya announced that it will start exporting oil again.
Wholesale gasoline added 0.5 percent to $2.07 a gallon. Heating oil rose 1.1 percent to $2.12 a gallon. Natural gas fell 1.1 percent to $2.80 per 1,000 cubic feet.