U.S. stock indexes edge lower amid uncertainty

U.S. stock indexes edged lower Thursday, indicating investor uncertainty despite positive economic data. The S&P 500 slipped 0.2% after fluctuating between modest gains and losses throughout the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped by 11 points, or less than 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.3%.

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In recent weeks, Wall Street has experienced volatility as investors react to various economic signals and policy changes. Stocks initially opened in positive territory following reports suggesting the U.S. economy is resilient enough to maintain current interest rates. One report highlighted that unemployment claims filed last week were slightly lower than expected, suggesting a stable job market.

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Another report indicated stronger-than-expected business activity last month, while a third report showed improved manufacturing growth in the mid-Atlantic region. Despite these positive economic indicators, Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized on Wednesday the high level of uncertainty in forecasting future economic conditions. This uncertainty and ongoing trade tensions continue to affect market sentiment.

The S&P 500 fell 1% yesterday, but more than half of it's components were higher on the day.

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Consulting and professional services company Accenture saw a significant decline in its stock, despite reporting better-than-expected profit and revenue for the latest quarter. Concerns are mounting over potential impacts on Accenture’s revenue from the U.S. government, which accounted for 17% of its North American revenue last fiscal year.

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Stock indexes reflect market uncertainty

The company’s stock fell 7.3%. Barry Bannister, chief equity strategist at Stifel, noted that the broad U.S. stock market’s recent downturn — following a period of rapid price increases — suggests the market may have been overvalued. Bannister suggested that while the S&P 500 might experience a short-term bounce, stock prices will likely remain under pressure as economic growth slows and inflation remains stubbornly high. Elsewhere on Wall Street, Darden Restaurants climbed 5.8% after meeting profit expectations for the latest quarter despite describing the operating environment as challenging. Darden owns Olive Garden and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, among other chains. Overall, the S&P 500 slipped 12.40 points to 5,662.89. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 11.31 to 41,953.32, and the Nasdaq composite fell 59.16 to 17,691.63. In international markets, London’s FTSE 100 fell 0.1%. European stocks significantly declined, with Germany’s DAX losing 1.2%. The Hang Seng index dropped 2.2% in Hong Kong, driven by heavy selling pressure on tech stocks. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.23% from 4.25% late Wednesday. Image Credits: Photo by Daniel Lloyd Blunk-Fernández on Unsplash