Stocks closed broadly higher on Wall Street Wednesday, although a sharp drop in the price of oil tempered the gains and more in Wednesday’s Stock Market Update.
The gains were tempered by a sharp drop in crude oil prices, which is sending energy stocks lower. Benchmark U.S. crude plunged 3.4% to $51.68 a barrel following a report showing an unexpected surge in U.S. crude supplies. U.S. crude has declined in five of the past six weeks and is now 22.1% below its 2019 closing high of $66.30 in April. The slide puts U.S. crude in what Wall Street calls a bear market. Occidental Petroleum fell 4.5% and Halliburton slid 3.5%.
Traders shrugged off a report from payroll processor ADP that showed private U.S. companies added the fewest jobs in nine years last month, as manufacturers, construction firms and mining companies cut workers. The results fell far short of economists’ forecasts.
The discouraging jobs data, which comes ahead of the government’s own tally of May hiring on Friday, could be seen as good news by investors who hope that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates to steady the economy as the U.S. brawls with other major economies over trade.
“It could help underpin a Fed rate hike,” said Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist at Prudential Financial. “The market has been in essence calling for a rate hike for a number of months as the economic data have waned and tariff issues have intensified.”
Signs that the Fed is willing to cut interest rates to reinforce economic growth are encouraging traders to bid up stocks after a stumbling start to the week.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday that the central bank was “closely monitoring” developments in the United States’ multiple trade conflicts and would “act as appropriate” to sustain the nation’s economic expansion.
Investors now expect the central bank to cut rates at least once and possibly twice before year’s end, in part because of fallout from the trade war.
Stocks slumped broadly in May as investors grew anxious over the trade disputes. An escalating trade war between the U.S. and China and the added threat of a new trade war with Mexico sent investors fleeing to safer holdings, like bonds.
The U.S. and Mexico were holding trade talks in Washington Wednesday afternoon. A 5% tariff on imports from Mexico is due to go into effect on Monday, barring an agreement between the two countries. The Trump administration is demanding that Mexico step up efforts to halt Central American migrants from making their way to the U.S.
Technology companies were among the most notable gainers Wednesday. Apple rose 1.6% and Microsoft added 2.1%. Salesforce climbed 4.9% after blowing away profit forecasts.
Traders also snapped up health care stocks. Boston Scientific gained 2.4% and Medtronic rose 2.2%.
Industrial stocks also rose broadly, with notable gains by airlines as fuel costs fell. American Airlines Group gained 4.2% and Southwest Airlines rose 2.5%.
A trickle of corporate earnings reports moved several stocks. GameStop plummeted after the video game maker badly missed sales estimates in the first quarter. Pivotal Software took a nosedive after the cloud-computing company slashed its revenue forecast for the year.
STOCK MARKET UPDATE
KEEPING SCORE: The S&P 500 index added 22 points, or 0.8%, to 2,826. The index’s 2.1% gain Tuesday was its best performance since January. The Dow Jones industrials rose 207 points, or 0.8%, to 25,539. The Nasdaq gained 48 points, or 0.6%, to 7,575.
Major stock indexes in Europe closed broadly higher.
WEAK GAME: Video game retailer GameStop plunged 35.5% after it eliminated its quarterly dividend. The stock is now down 61.5% this year.
The company has been struggling as it contends with more competition from companies selling consoles and games online. Global sales fell 13.3% during the most recent quarter, falling far short of Wall Street forecasts. Sales at established stores also fell far short of forecasts.
GameStop is also in the midst of a cost-cutting program and coming off of a recent leadership shake up.
PLENTIFUL PURSE: Vera Bradley rose 1.7% after the handbag and accessories company reported solid first quarter profit and revenue results. Sales at established stores blew past Wall Street forecasts.
The company also gave investors a surprisingly good revenue forecast for the current quarter and tightened its outlook for the year.
CANNED PROFIT: Campbell Soup jumped 9.9% after the iconic soup company swung to a fiscal third quarter profit and beat Wall Street forecasts.
The company, which also makes Pepperidge Farm cookies and V8 juice, also beat revenue forecasts for the quarter and said sales growth was fueled by its snacks business.
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