Daily Stock Market Update — Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Hopes for a cut in interest rates and for a resolution in the U.S.-Mexico trade dispute propelled stocks to a higher close and more in Tuesday’s Stock Market Update.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped over 500 points, while a rebound in technology shares helped the Nasdaq recover steep losses from Monday.

The chairman of the Federal Reserve signaled the central bank could cut rates if multiple U.S. trade conflicts threaten the U.S. economic expansion. Meanwhile, Mexico’s foreign minister said he expects his country to make a trade deal with the U.S. and avoid tariffs.

Remarks by Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard helped lift investors’ mood. Ebrard said that Mexico can likely reach a deal with the U.S. at a meeting Wednesday. That would stave off President Donald Trump’s threat to place 5% tariffs on Mexican goods. Trump warned he’d impose the tariffs beginning June 10 as part of a broader immigration dispute.

Automakers rallied as traders bet that the U.S. and Mexico will work out their trade issues. Many automakers import vehicles from Mexico and would be hit particularly hard if the U.S. imposes tariffs. Ford Motor climbed 3.2%, General Motors gained 6.0% and Fiat Chrysler added 3.9%.

The threat of a trade battle with Mexico has worried investors already nervous about the escalating trade war between the U.S. and China. The stock market suffered its first monthly loss of the year in May as investors fled to safer holdings such as bonds.

Chipmakers were among the biggest gainers in afternoon trading. Nvidia jumped 6.8% and Advanced Micro Devices climbed 7.2%. Other technology companies rallied. Microsoft rose 2.7% and Apple added 3.6%.

Facebook rose 2.0% after a shaky start. A top European Union legal adviser said that social media networks could be ordered to take down any text, photo or other media ruled to be defamatory by a court, anywhere in the world.

Banks also posted gains as lower bond prices pushed yields on the 10-year Treasury higher. Banks benefit from higher yields because they can charge more interest on loans. Bank of America rose 4.6% and Citigroup gained 5.2%.

Utilities lagged the market in another sign that investors were shifting funds away from safe-play holdings and into riskier, but potentially more profitable investments.

STOCK MARKET UPDATE

KEEPING SCORE: The S&P 500 index added 58 points, or 2.1%, to 2,803 and the Nasdaq gained 194 points, or 2.7%, to 7,527. The Dow rose 512 points, or 2.1%, to 25,332.

Major stock indexes in Europe also rose broadly.

FED FEEDS HOPES: “We do not know how or when these issues will be resolved,” Powell said in his remarks. “We are closely monitoring the implications of these developments for the U.S. economic outlook and, as always, we will act as appropriate to sustain the expansion.”

The market’s robust early gains this year were partly fueled by the Fed’s move to take a more patient approach to its rates policy after steadily raising rates for two years. Investors have been hoping it will go further and cut interest rates to give economic growth another push.

The current expansion will next month become the longest period of uninterrupted growth in U.S. history, surpassing the 10-year expansion of the 1990s.

BOXED IN: Online storage provider Box fell 4.1% after giving investors a weak revenue forecast for the year. The company cited a shift to longer sales cycles. The company also said it is “no longer prudent” to give a timeframe for reaching a $1 billion revenue milestone.

LINGERING LUSTER: Luxury jeweler Tiffany rose 2.6% after beating Wall Street’s profit forecasts for the first quarter. Investors focused on the solid profit figures amid a very mixed report.

A key figure measuring sales at established stores fell short of forecasts and Tiffany warned that higher costs from tariffs could cut into its profit.

TRANSFORMING DRUGSTORES: CVS Health rose 2.3% after it announced plans to add more health services, including medical equipment and dietitians to more than 1,500 stores over the next few years. The transformation will even include space for the occasional yoga class.

The transformation is part of a broader move within drugstores to expand services as they compete more intensely for customers’ health care needs. Rival Walgreens Boots Alliance is already experimenting with adding primary care offices to its stores. Its stock gained 3.1%.