The September selloff resumed Tuesday with stocks closing lower across the board. In addition to rising Treasury yields, sentiment took a hit after the latest batch of economic data came in worse than expected and as a looming government shutdown sparks concern over another potential U.S credit downgrade.
Earlier today, The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index fell to a four-month low of 103.0 in September from August's upwardly revised 108.7 reading. Additionally, the expectations index, which measures consumers' short-term outlook for business, wages and labor market conditions, plunged to 73.7 from 83.3 in the prior month. Readings below 80 have historically signaled a recession within the next 12 months, according to the report.
"Consumer confidence fell again in September 2023, marking two consecutive months of decline," said Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, in the press release. "Write-in responses showed that consumers continued to be preoccupied with rising prices in general, and for groceries and gasoline in particular." Peterson added that the country's political situation and higher interest rates were also concerns weighing on consumers.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free 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.
"Food and gasoline prices aren't the only headwinds for consumers, with lofty mortgage rates and towering housing prices in August causing new home sales to hit the lowest level since March," says José Torres, senior economist at Interactive Brokers.
Indeed, the Census Bureau this morning said that sales of new single-family homes fell 8.7% month-over-month in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 675,000. Still, new home sales were up 5.8% year-over-year.
Government shutdown puts U.S. credit rating at risk
In addition to the downbeat economic data, today's mood was soured after Moody's late Monday warned a government shutdown would be "credit negative" for the U.S.
"In particular, it would demonstrate the significant constraints that intensifying political polarization put on fiscal policy making at a time of declining fiscal strength, driven by widening fiscal deficits and deteriorating debt affordability," Moody's wrote in a research note. In August, Fitch downgraded the U.S. credit rating, citing "erosion of government."
Rivian, Fisker buck the bearish trend on bullish analyst notes
Today's selling was widespread, with all 11 S&P 500 sectors ending in negative territory. Utilities (-3.0%) were the worst performers, followed by consumer discretionary stocks, which plunged 1.8% on headwinds from Amazon.com (AMZN). The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 17 states on Tuesday sued the e-commerce giant, accusing it of being "monopolistic" and participating in anticompetitive behavior, including keeping prices artificially high. Amazon stock fell 4.0% in reaction.
Not all of the day's price action was lower, though. Electric vehicle stocks Rivian Automotive (RIVN) and Fisker (FSR) both soared in today's session. RIVN jumped 5.4% after Baird analyst Ben Kallo reiterated an Outperform (Buy) rating on the stock and named it as a "bullish Fresh Pick." The analyst thinks third-quarter deliveries will beat expectations and that sentiment will improve as Rivian "continues to realize cost benefits from an improving supply chain and the use of in-house components."
FSR stock, meanwhile, surged 9.6% after BofA Securities analyst John Babcock initiated coverage with a Buy rating. Fisker offers investors "pure-play exposure to the rapidly growing EV market, has key milestones coming in 2024 and a lower risk business model than peers," Babcock wrote in a note to clients.
As for the major indexes, the rate-sensitive Nasdaq Composite closed down 1.6% at 13,063 as yields on the 2-year and 10-year Treasuries hovered near their highest levels since 2006 and 2007, respectively. The broader S&P 500 finished down 1.5% at 4,273, while the blue chip Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 1.1% to 33,618.
Related content
-
Dow, S&P 500 Slip on December Rate Cut Worries, Nvidia Boosts Nasdaq: Stock Market TodayNvidia became the first company ever to boast a $5 trillion market cap, but it wasn't enough to lift the Dow and the S&P 500.
-
Where You Choose to Stash $100k Now Comes with a Big Opportunity CostThe Fed recently cut rates. Here's where to maximize your savings while rates remain higher.
-
Stocks Hit Fresh Highs Ahead of the Fed As Earnings Pump Optimism: Stock Market TodaySHW and UNH were two of the best Dow Jones stocks Tuesday, thanks to solid earnings reports, and MSFT closed with a $4 trillion market cap.
-
Dow Adds 472 Points After September CPI: Stock Market TodayIBM and Advanced Micro Devices created tailwinds for the main indexes after scoring a major quantum-computing win.
-
Dow Beats 334-Point Retreat on Tech Bite: Stock Market TodayInvestors, traders and speculators wonder whether this remains a Magnificent 7 market and how long this AI-driven bull run will last.
-
What the Rich Know About Investing That You Don'tPeople like Warren Buffett become people like Warren Buffett by following basic rules and being disciplined. Here's how to accumulate real wealth.
-
Dow Adds 516 Points on Broad Optimism: Stock Market TodayEasing trade war tensions and promise from early earnings reports has investors looking on the bright side to start the week.
-
Rally Fades on Mixed AI Revolution News: Stock Market TodayAll three main U.S. equity indexes opened higher but closed lower as a seven-session winning streak for the S&P 500 came to an end.
-
If You'd Put $1,000 Into Bank of America Stock 20 Years Ago, Here's What You'd Have TodayBank of America stock has been a massive buy-and-hold bust.
-
If You'd Put $1,000 Into Oracle Stock 20 Years Ago, Here's What You'd Have TodayORCL Oracle stock has been an outstanding buy-and-hold bet for decades.
