US markets settle lower on Friday

23 Jul 2022 Evaluate

The US markets settled lower on Friday with tech-heavy Nasdaq losing over a percent. A steep drop by shares of Snap Inc. (SNAP) weighed on the tech-heavy Nasdaq, with the Snapchat parent plunging by 39.1 percent to a two-year closing low. The nosedive by Snap came after the company reported disappointing second quarter results and declined to provide guidance due amid ‘incredibly challenging’ conditions. Snap also announced plans to ‘substantially slow’ its rate of hiring. Social media giant Twitter (TWTR) also reported second quarter results that missed analyst estimates, citing advertising industry headwinds and uncertainty related to the pending acquisition by Elon Musk. Computer hardware stocks also showed a substantial move to the downside on the day, dragging the NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index down by 3.1 percent. The index ended Thursday's trading at its best closing level in over a month.

Significant weakness was also visible among semiconductor stocks, as reflected by the 2.6 percent slump by the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index. The index also pulled back off a one-month closing high. Outside of the tech sector, airline stocks extended the sell-off seen during trading on Thursday, resulting in a 2.8 percent nosedive by the NYSE Arca Airline Index. Traders remained sidelined as they looked ahead to next week's highly anticipated monetary policy decision by the Federal Reserve. The Fed is widely expected to raise interest rates by at least 75 basis points as part of its ongoing efforts to combat elevated inflation. Investors are eyeing reports on consumer confidence, new home sales, durable goods orders, second quarter GDP and personal income and spending.

Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 137.61 points or 0.43 percent to 31,899.29, Nasdaq fell 225.50 points or 1.87 percent to 11,834.11 and S&P 500 was down by 37.32 points or 0.93 percent to 3,961.63.

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