Stocks slipped on Wednesday as tech shares declined following President Donald Trump’s second State of the Union address. Investors also digested corporate earnings results from companies like General Motors.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 85 points and was on track to end a three-day winning streak. The S&P 500 traded 0.4 percent lower, on pace to snap a five-day winning streak, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.7 percent.
Shares of tech-related companies like Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google-parent Alphabet all declined at least 0.7 percent. Apple also fell 0.6 percent.
Wednesday’s move down comes a day after the major indexes rose broadly. On Tuesday, the Dow gained more than 150 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose 0.47 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively.
Trump addressed issues like infrastructure spending, drug pricing and trade. He also appeared to soften his tone around funding for a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump reiterated his belief the U.S. needs a border wall, but did not declare a state of emergency as he had previously threatened to do.
The president also said China and the U.S. are working on a new trade deal, but noted it must “include real, structural change to end unfair trade practices, reduce our chronic trade deficit, and protect American jobs.”.
Trade worries have been an overhang for global capital markets for nearly a year as China and the U.S. slap tariffs on billions of dollars worth of their goods. The two countries have set an early March deadline to come up with a permanent deal.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Wednesday that talks between the two countries have been “very productive ” so far. “We’re putting in an enormous amount of effort to hit this deadline and get a deal. That’s our objective.”
Meanwhile, the corporate earnings season rolled on with General Motors reporting better-than-expected results. The numbers sent GM shares up nearly 1 percent. Walt Disney and Snap also reported better-than-forecast results. Disney climbed nearly 0.1 percent while Snap surged 24 percent.
Eli Lilly and Cummins, meanwhile, reported earnings that missed expectations.
Through Wednesday morning, more than 55 percent of S&P 500 companies have posted quarterly results. Of those companies, 68 percent have beaten expectations.
“We’re at right about half time for this earnings season and the picture is anything but clear,” said Mike Loewengart, vice president of investment strategy at E-Trade. “We’ve enjoyed a heck of a rally so far this year, but that can easily be disrupted if more companies miss the mark on earnings.”
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Source: cnbc.com | Original Link