Wednesday, July 20, 2022

US Market Wrap 07/20/2022

- In a volatile session, US stocks rose as investors digested the latest corporate news and the potential for geopolitical risks in Europe. The dollar rose while the euro fell as Italy's government appeared to be in trouble.


- The S&P 500 gained for the first time in nearly two weeks, with advances in technology and consumer discretionary stocks offsetting declines in defensive sectors, utilities, and health care. While tech stocks briefly pared their gains after Google (GOOGL) announced a two-week hiring halt, gains in Netflix (NFLX) on better-than-expected earnings underpinned rallies in streaming peers as well as consumer confidence.


- Stocks rose for the third day in a row, propelled by optimism about the earnings season and growing speculation that markets have bottomed out. While that debate continues, with Sanford C. Bernstein strategists predicting that markets will not fully capitulate, rates markets have discarded bets that the Federal Reserve will raise rates by a full percentage point next week, bolstering hopes that the central bank will take a more measured approach to policy tightening.


- Earlier, risk sentiment was hit by news that the European Union is preparing for a scenario in which Russia suspends gas exports in retaliation for sanctions imposed for its invasion of Ukraine. Russia's president Putin, has indicated that Europe will begin receiving gas, but has warned that unless a dispute over sanctioned parts is resolved, flows will be severely restricted.