Stock Markets
Nasdaq nears all-time high; Nvidia beats Amazon’s market value
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., February 6, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/FILE PHOTO
By Johann M Cherian and Ankika Biswas
(Reuters) -U.S. stocks climbed on Monday, with the tech-laden Nasdaq inching close to its all-time high as investors geared up for two crucial inflation reports during the week, while Nvidia (NASDAQ:) overtook Amazon in value for the first time in two decades.
Nasdaq rose past its highest closing level hit in November 2021, bringing it within a percentage from its all-time intra-day high of 16,212.229.
Over the past four months, megacaps with greater exposure to artificial intelligence have spearheaded a bull market on Wall Street, also riding on hopes of imminent rate cuts and an upbeat outlook from businesses.
The benchmark crossed the psychological 5,000-point level on Friday and is trading at record high levels along with the blue-chip Dow.
Leading the charge, Nvidia crossed above Amazon.com (NASDAQ:) in market capitalization, as the euphoria around AI catapulted the chipmaker to the fourth-most valuable U.S. company. Nvidia was up 2.6%, while Amazon dipped 0.4%.
“A lot of people earlier in the year may have thought we were set for a bit of pullback in the semiconductor sector and it didn’t happen, so it’s certainly people saying, I don’t want to miss the performance like I did last year,” said Joe Saluzzi, co-manager of trading at Themis Trading.
Traders await January’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) this week to determine the timeline for monetary policy easing this year. Other data through the week also include industrial production, retail sales and preliminary University of Michigan consumer sentiment.
“An inflation number that’s really hot might get some investors a bit nervous, but other than that the Fed is going to be in the same mode,” Saluzzi added.
With growing data reflecting a robust economy, central bankers have effectively pushed back against traders’ bets for early rate cuts. The odds for at least a 25-basis-point rate reduction in May have dropped to 55.8%, from over 95% at the start of 2024, as per the CME FedWatch Tool.
Remarks from Federal Reserve officials including Richmond President Thomas Barkin and Minneapolis chief Neel Kashkari, scheduled through the day, will be scrutinized for any hints on the timing for rate cuts.
At 11:57 a.m. ET, the was up 202.88 points, or 0.52%, at 38,874.57, the S&P 500 was up 19.56 points, or 0.39%, at 5,046.17, and the was up 74.54 points, or 0.47%, at 16,065.20.
The small caps index also surged 1.8%.
Among other movers, Diamondback (NASDAQ:) Energy jumped 10.2%, helping energy to top the 11 S&P 500 sectors with a 1.0% gain, after announcing a $26-billion deal to buy the largest privately held oil and gas producer in the Permian basin, Endeavor Energy Partners.
Joby Aviation (NYSE:) gained 8.2% as the electric-powered aircraft maker signed an agreement to launch air taxi services in the Emirate by early 2026.
Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 4.00-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 2.45-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.
The S&P index recorded 45 new 52-week highs and no new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 149 new highs and 29 new lows.
Stock Markets
SKK Holdings sets IPO price at $4 per share
SINGAPORE – SKK Holdings Limited, a Singaporean civil engineering service provider, has set the price for its initial public offering (IPO) at $4.00 per share, aiming to raise $10 million in gross proceeds before underwriting discounts and offering expenses. The company, which is specialized in subsurface utility works such as cable laying and sewer rehabilitation, is offering 1,750,000 ordinary shares while the remaining 750,000 shares are being sold by existing shareholders.
The shares are scheduled to start trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market tomorrow under the ticker symbol “SKK”. The offering is expected to close on October 9, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. Bancroft Capital, LLC is serving as the sole underwriter for the IPO.
SKK Holdings has over a decade of experience in public utility projects, contributing to the construction and maintenance of infrastructure that benefits society and the environment. The company’s services include power and telecommunication cable laying works, water pipeline construction, and sewer rehabilitation.
The IPO is conducted under the company’s registration statement on Form F-1, which was declared effective by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 18, 2024. The final prospectus for the IPO is available on the SEC’s website.
The press release issued by SKK Holdings contains forward-looking statements about the company’s expectations regarding the IPO. However, these statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.
This news article is based on a press release statement and aims to provide an unbiased summary of the key facts related to SKK Holdings Limited’s IPO pricing and details.
InvestingPro Insights
As SKK Holdings Limited prepares for its Nasdaq debut, InvestingPro data offers valuable insights into the company’s financial performance. In the last twelve months as of Q4 2023, SKK reported revenue of $9.76 million, with a modest growth of 1.43% over the same period. The company’s gross profit stood at $3.45 million, translating to a healthy gross profit margin of 35.39%.
SKK’s operating income for the same period was $0.42 million, resulting in an operating income margin of 4.32%. This indicates that the company has been able to maintain profitability in its core operations, which is crucial for a civil engineering service provider entering the public market.
An InvestingPro Tip suggests that SKK’s earnings per share have shown improvement recently. This aligns with the company’s reported basic and diluted EPS of $0.01 for continuing operations in the last twelve months, potentially making it an attractive proposition for investors looking at its IPO.
Another InvestingPro Tip notes that SKK has a high return on invested capital, which is supported by the company’s return on assets of 1.43%. This could indicate efficient use of capital in its subsurface utility works and other civil engineering projects.
These insights provide a snapshot of SKK’s financial health as it embarks on its IPO journey. Investors interested in a deeper analysis can access additional tips and metrics through InvestingPro, which offers a total of 12 additional tips for SKK Holdings Limited.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.
Stock Markets
Equinor buys 9.8% stake in offshore wind developer Orsted
By Nora Buli and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen
OSLO/COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Norway’s Equinor has bought a 9.8% stake valued at around $2.5 billion in Danish offshore wind farm developer Orsted (CSE:), it said on Monday, as it seeks to build up its renewables portfolio.
Orsted shares have dropped 69% from their 2021 all-time high as the offshore wind sector has faced surging costs and technical problems with turbines.
But Equinor said its share acquisition was a long-term bet on the sector, after the Norwegian company made slow progress on reaching its ambitious renewable energy targets.
The transaction would count towards Equinor’s renewable energy portfolio target, adding 1.7 gigawatt (GW) of net generation capacity out of the company’s goal of installing 12-16 GW by 2030, CEO Anders Opedal told Reuters.
At the end of 2023, the company had less than 1 GW of installed renewable capacity.
“We see this as a good counter cyclical move at this point in time to get into a very attractive portfolio,” Opedal said.
Orsted’s share price rose more than 8% on the news before paring gains to stand 5.8% higher at 1300 GMT. Equinor’s shares fell by 3.9%.
An Orsted spokesperson declined to comment.
Equinor said it did not plan to raise its stake beyond 10% and would not seek board representation.
The world’s biggest offshore wind developer was last year hit by costs and project delays as inflation raised the price of turbines and other equipment and services.
“The offshore wind industry is currently facing a set of challenges, but we remain confident in the long-term outlook for the sector, and the crucial role offshore wind will play in the energy transition,” he said.
Equinor’s ownership position was built over time, through a combination of market purchases and a block trade, the company said.
The investment makes Equinor the second largest shareholder in Orsted after the Danish government.
Battling to restore investor confidence, Orsted in February trimmed its investment and capacity targets and paused dividend payouts as part of a major review.
“Structurally, this doesn’t change anything for the direction Orsted is heading,” Sydbank analyst Jacob Pedersen said.
The company has broad political backing in Denmark with no signs that the state will relinquish its 51% stake, he said.
Denmark brought in Goldman Sachs as a strategic shareholder 10 years ago, when the company – formerly DONG Energy – was focused on oil and gas. The Wall Street bank doubled its 8 billion-crown investment just two years later, when Orsted listed in Copenhagen in 2016.
Stock Markets
Trade balance, exports, and imports data due Tuesday
As traders approach another pivotal day for financial markets, a series of crucial economic data releases that could sway market dynamics are expected on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The day’s schedule includes significant reports on trade balance, exports, and imports, which will provide insights into the United States’ economic performance and international trade position.
Major Economic Events to Watch
• 8:30 AM ET – Trade Balance (Aug): Expected -$70.60B, Previous -$78.80B. Measures the difference in value between imported and exported goods and services.
• 8:30 AM ET – Exports (Aug): Previous $266.60B. Provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports.
• 8:30 AM ET – Imports (Aug): Previous $345.40B. Measures the value of goods and services brought into the US from other countries.
• 10:30 AM ET – Atlanta Fed GDPNow: Forecast 2.5%, Previous 2.5%. Provides a running estimate of real GDP growth based on available economic data.
• 12:00 PM ET – EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook: Offers forecasts for consumption, supply, trade, and prices across major fuel types.
• 12:45 PM ET – FOMC Member Bostic Speaks: Atlanta Fed President’s remarks may offer insights into future monetary policy.
• 1:00 PM ET – 3-Year Note Auction: Previous 3.440%. Indicates the yield on Treasury Notes auctioned, reflecting government debt situation.
• 4:30 PM ET – API Weekly Crude Stock: Previous -1.458M. Reports inventory levels of US , gasoline, and distillates stocks.
Other Economic Events to Watch
• 3:00 AM ET – FOMC Member Kugler Speaks: Federal Reserve Governor’s remarks may influence market expectations.
• 6:00 AM ET – NFIB Small Business Optimism (Sep): Forecast 92.0, Previous 91.2. Indicates the health of small businesses in the U.S.
• 8:55 AM ET – Redbook (YoY) (Oct 6): Previous 5.3%. Measures year-over-year same-store sales growth in large US general merchandise retailers.
• 10:10 AM ET – IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism (Oct): Forecast 47.2, Previous 46.1. Rates the relative level of economic conditions.
• 4:00 PM ET – Fed Collins Speaks: Boston Fed President’s comments may offer insights into monetary policy stance.
• 7:30 PM ET – Fed Governor Jefferson Speaks: Remarks may provide clues about future Fed decisions.
For further information and the latest updates, please refer to our Economic Calendar, here.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.
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