Strong Retail Sales Stoke Interest Rate Fears
Wall Street's main stock indexes fell on Tuesday after stronger-than-expected retail sales data sparked concerns that interest rates might remain high for an extended period. The Commerce Department's report showed retail sales growing 0.7% last month, against expectations of a 0.4% rise, suggesting the U.S. economy's continued strength.
Banks Tumble Amid Interest Rate Uncertainty
Banks bore the brunt of the selling as investors became increasingly worried about interest rate uncertainty. The U.S. Treasury yield curve inverted, with longer-term bonds yielding less than short-term debt, pressuring banks' profits. "We would probably end up with an inverted yield curve for longer than anticipated, even if we don't end up with an economic recession," said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research.
Possible Downgrades for Major Banks
A report indicated that ratings agency Fitch might downgrade several banks. Shares of JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo fell between 2.3% and 2.9%. "The story from Fitch about potential downgrades to multiple U.S. banks (is) weighing on sentiment," noted Michael James, managing director of equity trading at Wedbush Securities.
Regional Lenders and Indexes Affected
Shares of regional lenders such as PacWest Bancorp, Zions Bancorp, and Western Alliance Bank fell between 3.2% and nearly 5% following the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp's regulatory overhaul proposal. Additionally, the S&P 500 banking index hit a one-month low, last down 2.65%, while the KBW regional banking index slipped 3.25%.
Overview of S&P 500 Sector Performance
All major 11 S&P 500 sectors declined, with energy stocks leading losses on weaker crude prices. Conversely, technology stocks fared better, with shares of Nvidia rising 1.6% after UBS and Wells Fargo increased their price targets on the stock.
U.S.-Listed Chinese Shares & Market Summary
U.S.-listed shares of Chinese companies like Alibaba Group slid 2.2% following disappointing economic data from China. As of 2.08 pm ET, key indices such as the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow Jones Industrial Average were down by varying percentages.
Other Notable Stock Movements
Among other stocks, General Motors fell nearly 2% after Berkshire Hathaway cut its stake in the company. In contrast, Berkshire's new investments in homebuilders D.R. Horton and Lennar Corp caused their shares to rise 3.3% and 2.2%, respectively.
Market Highs and Lows
Declining stocks outnumbered rising ones within the S&P 500 by a 9.7-to-one ratio. The S&P 500 posted 3 new highs and 17 new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 40 new highs and 178 new lows, reflecting the market's overall bearish sentiment.
