The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) Monday closed up +1.03%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.46%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +1.13%. 

US stock indexes on Monday settled moderately higher, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posting 3-week highs and the Dow Jones Industrials posting a 3-1/2 week high.  Stocks had carryover support from last Friday’s Fed-friendly US payroll report that bolstered expectations for the Fed to cut interest rates this year.  Also, the strength of chip makers and AI hardware stocks on Monday boosted the overall market. 

Q1 earnings results have been mostly better than expected, a supportive factor for stocks.  Q1 earnings are now expected to climb +6.5% y/y, well above the pre-earnings season estimate of +3.8%.  According to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence, about 81% of reporting S&P 500 companies have beaten Q1 earnings estimates. 

On Monday, M&A activity was bullish for stocks after the Fin... Read more