Joey Solitro
Stocks closed out the week with a bang as Treasury yields retreated from recent highs. Optimism is swirling ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday, which also happens to be a stock market holiday. Indeed, both the equities and bond markets will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.8% at 43,487, the S&P 500 was 1.0% higher at 5,996, and the Nasdaq Composite had gained 1.5% to 19,630. It was the first weekly win of 2025 for the benchmarks and the biggest week-over-week gains for the Dow and S&P 500 since the post-election "Trump bump" in early November.
Enthusiasm toward the incoming administration gave a boost to bitcoin, which topped the $105,000 level for the first time since mid-December. This created a halo to lift several cryptocurrency-related stocks, including Robinhood Markets (HOOD, +4.5%) and Coinbase Global (COIN, +4.9%).
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
SLB soars on earnings beat, dividend hike
Elsewhere, SLB (SLB) was one of the best S&P 500 stocks, adding 6.1%, after the oilfield services company beat top- and bottom-line expectations for its fourth quarter.
For the third year in a row, SLB raised its quarterly dividend, this time by 3.6%. It also announced a $2.3 billion accelerated share repurchase.
"With its significant scale, we believe SLB is poised to benefit from continued strengthening business dynamics driven by increased demand on an expected momentum in international activity (Middle East in focus)," wrote Jefferies analyst Lloyd Byrne in a January 3 note.
The analyst also expects SLB to continue with its "industry-leading margins, robust free cash flow and solid shareholder returns in the upcoming years."
Other stocks on the move
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) stock fell 7.4% after the logistics company fell short of profit expectations and only matched revenue expectations for its fourth quarter.
"We maintain our Sell rating based on our view of increased competition," says CFRA Research analyst Emily Nasseff Mitsch. "Additionally, we expect JBHT to face challenges in expanding margins above historical levels."
Qorvo (QRVO) stock surged 14.4% after activist investor Starboard Value revealed a 7.7% stake in the chipmaker and Apple (AAPL) supplier.
"We are very intrigued by the investment stake as we have viewed Starboard as one of the most successful activists within the semiconductor industry over the last decade-plus," says CFRA Research analyst Angelo Zino (Hold).
And while Zino thinks QRVO will benefit from cost-cutting initiatives, he is "cautious about the increasing competitive landscape across the radio-frequency space both domestically and from China."
Housing starts, industrial production improved
Turning to the economic calendar, data from the Census Bureau showed housing starts jumped 15.8% month over month in December thanks to "a surge in rental unit construction," says José Torres, senior economist at Interactive Brokers.
However, "this elevated degree of groundbreaking wasn't accompanied by gains in future plans," Torres says, considering building permits slipped 0.7%.
Separate data from the Federal Reserve showed industrial production increased 0.9% in December, the second straight month of growth.
"Although this indicator has large revisions on a month-on-month basis, the prospects for the manufacturing sector seem to have brightened somewhat lately, with manufacturing diffusion indices showing a potential improvement in the sector," says Eugenio Alemán, chief economist at Raymond James.
Related content
- Earnings Season: Live Updates and Commentary
- Could ESG Funds be Removed from Your 401(k) Plan?
- Why Bank of America Stock Is Still a Buy After Earnings
-
America's Surprising Strengths in Manufacturing and ExportsThe Kiplinger Letter Despite common perceptions that the U.S. doesn't build things anymore, American factories are still hard at work. A special report from The Kiplinger Letter.
-
The Trump GOP Tax Bill Could Worsen California Cost of LivingState Tax Energy bills in the Golden State may shock you if Republican lawmakers in Congress remove certain energy tax credits through Trump's 'big, beautiful bill.'
-
The Best Covered-Call ETFs to BuyCovered-call ETFs can provide consistent, above-average income generation, but they can also cap potential upside. Here's what to look for.
-
Wealth Advisers: In Estate Planning, the End Is Just the BeginningWe need to keep the lines of communication with our clients open so that we can anticipate and help them navigate issues that arise over time.
-
Stood Up by a Radio Show: But Was It a Breach of Contract?A conscientious financial planner reschedules his clients after being invited onto a talk show and ends up losing one of them at a cost of $5,000. What does the radio show owe him, if anything?
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Stable as Inflation, Tariff Fears EbbConstructive trade war talks and improving consumer expectations are a healthy combination for financial markets.
-
Eight Estate Planning Steps to Protect Your Loved Ones (and Your Legacy)Two-thirds of Americans don't have an estate plan. If you're one of them, these are the essential steps to take now to prevent problems for your family later.
-
The Six Pros This Adviser Says You Need to Sell Your BusinessSelling your business isn't as simple as getting the best price and walking away. These are the six professionals you'll need to get a deal across the finish line.
-
The Three C's to Financial Success: A Financial Planner's Guide to Build WealthConsistency, commitment and confidence in your chosen strategy are more critical to your financial success than finding the 'perfect' financial plan.
-
A Financial Adviser's Guide to Solving Your Retirement Puzzle: Five Key PiecesIf retirement's a puzzle you're struggling with, try answering these five questions. The answers will guide you toward a solution.
