US STOCKS STEADY INTO QUARTER-END; SMALL CAPS EYE BEST FIRST HALF SINCE 1991
Wall Street’s main indexes are modestly positive early on the final trading day of the quarter, with equities still on pace to deliver their strongest gains in years.
In terms of economic data, June’s Chicago PMI came in at 56.7, above the 56.0 estimate. June consumer confidence, at 91.2, missed the 94.8 Reuters Poll. May job openings (JOLTS) came out at 7.594 million vs. a 7.3 million estimate.
Sector performance is mixed. A majority of S&P 500 CBOE:SPX sectors are in the red, led lower by real estate SP:S5REAS, which is down more than 2%. On the flip side, technology SP:S5INFT is providing support, rising more than 1.5%.
Under the surface, semiconductor stocks NASDAQ:SOX are showing relative strength, while transports DJ:DJT are under pressure.
Despite the S&P 500 and Nasdaq TVC:IXIC being on track to end the month in the red, the broader trend remains strong. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are both on track for their biggest quarterly gains since the second quarter of 2020. The small-cap Russell 2000 TVC:RUT is headed for its best quarter since the fourth quarter of 2020, while the Dow DJ:DJI is eyeing its strongest quarterly performance since late 2022.
Year to date, the S&P 500 is up 9%, the Nasdaq has gained about 12%, the Russell 2000 has surged more than 21%, and the Dow is ahead by more than 8%.
That puts the S&P 500 and Nasdaq on pace for their best first-half performances since 2024, while the Dow is having its strongest start to a year since 2021. The Russell 2000 stands out even more, tracking its best first six months since 1991.
Here’s where markets stood around 10:07 a.m. ET: