U.S. stocks ended mixed on Wednesday as the Dow slipped while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq extended gains, driven by renewed strength in tech and selective financials. The Dow was dragged lower by weakness in industrials and energy, with Caterpillar (CAT) falling on supply-chain concerns and Chevron (CVX) easing alongside softer crude prices. On the upside, Microsoft (MSFT) rose after announcing a new enterprise AI partnership, while Meta Platforms (META) advanced on fresh signs of user growth. Salesforce (CRM) also ticked higher as cloud demand remained firm. In financials, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Morgan Stanley (MS) gained on solid trading revenue and expectations tied to Fed stress test follow-through. With Friday’s jobs report looming, the market showed a preference for quality leadership and tech resilience, while more cyclical areas took a breather. Market Drivers: 📱Technology: Microsoft Gains, Adobe Firms: Microsoft (MSFT) advanced after announcing a new enterprise AI collaboration aimed at accelerating Azure adoption across Fortune 500 clients. Adobe (ADBE) firmed as strong demand for its AI-integrated creative suite continued to support revenue growth. 🏦 Financials: JPMorgan Rises, Morgan Stanley Climbs: JPMorgan Chase (JPM) rose on renewed momentum in trading operations and steady credit conditions. Morgan Stanley (MS) gained as investors responded to solid wealth management performance and deal pipeline commentary. 🚗 Automotive: GM Edges Higher, Tesla Slips: General Motors (GM) moved up after releasing favorable July EV reservation figures and reaffirming cost-efficiency goals. Tesla (TSLA) ticked lower as concerns around European logistics and soft China pricing resurfaced. 🏥 Healthcare: UnitedHealth Advances, Pfizer Dips: UnitedHealth Group (UNH) extended gains on optimism around Medicare Advantage enrollment trends and stable medical cost ratios. Pfizer (PFE) eased as attention shifted from vaccine pipeline strength to litigation risks and drug pricing pressure. 🍔 Consumer Discretionary: Amazon Pops, Booking Retreats: Amazon (AMZN) jumped after highlighting robust Prime Day expectations and cloud division expansion. Booking Holdings (BKNG) slipped slightly as profit-taking emerged despite sustained strength in global summer travel demand. Could you claim a stake in Musk’s AI startup for just $500?[ad] |