The stock market showed volatile split action, amid efforts to avoid a wider bank crisis following the SVB Financial and Signature Bank shutdowns in the prior week. Credit Suisse borrowed up to $54 billion from the Swiss National Bank after the long-ailing giant tumbled to a record low. JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and other big banks said they would deposit a total of $30 billion into First Republic, which then suspended its dividend. But bank stocks were still down sharply, weighing on the Russell 2000. The Nasdaq rose sharply, led by tech titans such as Microsoft, Meta Platforms and Nvidia. Treasury yields plunged but came well off lows. Commodity prices tumbled.
Stock Market Diverges
A stock market rally attempt got underway, but there's been no follow-through day to confirm the attempt. There was a clear divergence between the Nasdaq and the other indexes, weighed down by banks and commodities. The Nasdaq surged above its 50-day and 200-day lines, even with a Friday pullback. led by tech titans and chipmakers. The S&P 500 rose modestly, but fell back below its 200-day. The Dow Jones ended little changed for the week while the Russell 2000 tumbled. Treasury yields initially dived then roared back. Crude oil and copper prices dived.
Bank Woes Spread, Lifelines Extended
After SVB Financial and Signature Bank were shut down late in the prior week, there were more bank stresses. Credit Suisse tapped a $54 billion loan from the Swiss National Bank after the Swiss banking giant's stock hit a record low. First Republic Bank bounced Thursday after getting a $30 billion deposit rescue from America's 11 largest banks, after securing $70 billion from JPMorgan and the Federal Reserve on Sunday. But First Republic resumed its sell-off Friday as it suspended its dividend. Other banks also skidded again Friday. FDIC-controlled SVB Financial filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid efforts to auction off Silicon Valley Bank.
Core Inflation Hot, Other Data Mixed
Core inflation ran hotter than expected in February, likely enough to push the Fed to hike its key interest rate a half-point on March 22, if it weren't for the sudden eruption of a banking crisis. The consumer price index rose 0.4% on the month, pulling the annual CPI inflation rate down to 6% from 6.4% the prior month. But the core CPI, excluding food and energy, rose 0.5% from January, while the core CPI inflation rate held at 5.5%. Even worse, price gains were even hotter for nonhousing services such as dining out and haircuts, which both saw 0.6% monthly gains. Fed chair Jerome Powell has said nonhousing services are a key to the policy outlook because of their close link to wage growth.
Weekly data through March 11 showed jobless claims unexpectedly falling 20,000 to 192,000 in a further sign of labor market tightness. Even the depressed housing sector got a lift in February as housing starts leapt 9.8% to 1.45 million and building permits for future construction surged 13.8% to a 1.524 million annual rate.
However, the producer price index unexpectedly fell 0.1% in February as wholesale inflation eased to 4.6% from 5.7% in January. Retail sales slipped 0.4% in February after January's upwardly revised 3.2% gain.
Meta Soars On New Layoffs, TikTok Ban Buzz
Meta Platforms will cut 10,000 jobs in the coming months, after shedding 11,000 positions in November. The Facebook and Instagram parent also will leave several thousand positions unfilled. Meanwhile, the Biden administration threatened to ban TikTok unless its Chinese owners divest the video-sharing app, a potential boost for Meta, Snap and other social networks. META stock soared, breaking out of a base.
Tesla China Sales Keep Rising
Tesla China EV registrations rose for a third straight week to 17,032. BYD China registrations were more than double Tesla's, but fell for a second straight week. Other data signaled a pick up in European sales after additional price cuts there. TSLA stock rose modestly.
United Airlines Dives On Warnings
United Airlines unexpectedly warned on profits for the current quarter, raising demand concerns. Several carriers, including United, also raised jet-fuel cost estimates. Delta Air Lines maintained its first-quarter outlook, saying travel demand is strong and getting stronger. JetBlue Airways hiked its revenue forecast. UAL stock plunged, with other airline stocks tumbling as well.
Biotech Buyouts
A pair of biotech buyouts drove shares higher. Pfizer will pay $43 billion to buy Seagen, a maker of antibody drug conjugates, or ADCs. These drugs carry payloads of toxic chemicals directed at specific targets on the outside of tumors, limiting their damage to healthy, surrounding tissue. Meanwhile, Sanofi scooped up Provention Bio for $2.9 billion. Provention sells a drug to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes in people age 8 and older. It's allowed for people who have abnormal blood sugar but no symptoms of diabetes.
News In Brief
Sarepta Therapeutics plunged Friday after the FDA reversed course and announced that it will hold an advisory panel for the biotech's gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy prior to an FDA approval decision. SRPT stock gapped up March 1 after the FDA decided against an advisory panel, suggesting a faster approval.
Boeing announced an order for up to 121 787 Dreamliner jets from two Saudi airlines, including the national carrier Saudia and the brand-new Riyadh Air. The deal is worth an estimated $35 billion-$37 billion at list prices.
Amylyx Pharmaceuticals topped Wall Street's fourth-quarter estimates, delivering $21.9 million in sales of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis drug Relyvrio. Analysts called for only $4.7 million, according to FactSet. Amylyx stock jumped.
Jabil reported slightly better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results and guided higher for the current quarter. The contract manufacturer said earnings rose 12% year over year while sales increased 8%.
Lennar reported a 21% EPS decline in its fiscal Q1, but that topped views. Revenue growth slowed to 5%, but also topped. The homebuilder also touted stronger new orders.
Xpeng swung to a wider-than-expected loss as revenue plunged 58%, also missing views, amid tumbling deliveries and weaker pricing. XPeng sees Q1 deliveries of 18,000-19,000, implying March sales of 5,772-6,772.
Academy Sports & Outdoor reported a 27% EPS gain, topping views. Revenue fell 3.4%, sliding for a fourth straight quarter and missing views. Shares gapped higher.
FedEx soared Friday as the delivery giant beat EPS views and guided higher on full-year profit as cost cuts offset continued demand weakness.
Uber, Lyft and DoorDash rallied after a California appeals court said app-based drivers are contractors, not employees, reversing a lower-court ruling. Further appeals are expected.
