U.S Stock Market Summary – May 15, 2024

Written by Dreamer

On May 15, 2024, the U.S. stock markets saw remarkable gains, with all major indexes recording significant increases.

  • S&P 500: Closed at 5,308.15, up 61.47 points or 1.17%.
  • Dow 30: Closed at 39,980.00, up 349.89 points or 0.88%.
  • Nasdaq: Closed at 16,742.39, up 231.21 points or 1.40%.
  • Russell 2000: Closed at 2,109.46, up 23.77 points or 1.14%.

This bullish behavior was largely fueled by the latest inflation data, which was slightly below expectations but optimistic enough to bolster investor confidence. The hope that the Federal Reserve might soon cut interest rates also played a crucial role in driving the market upwards. However, despite the positive day, there was a sense of caution among some market participants, suggesting that the rally could be an overreaction to the subdued inflation figures. This reflects a delicate balance in market sentiments, underscoring the continued focus on inflation trends and potential monetary policy adjustments.

Contents:

Insights:

Stock Performance Overview:

Stock performance overview is as below:

  • Gainers: 4,236 stocks experienced an increase in their stock prices.
  • Losers: 2,472 stocks saw a decrease in their stock prices.
  • Unchanged: 434 stocks remained unchanged in their stock prices.

This snapshot indicates a generally positive trend in the market, with more stocks gaining than losing on this particular day, suggesting investor confidence and favorable market conditions.

Market Cap Category Distribution:

The market cap breakdown of companies is as below:

  • Micro Cap: These smallest companies form nearly half the market, representing 49%.
  • Small Cap: Almost a quarter of the companies are small caps, accounting for 23%.
  • Mid Cap: Medium-sized companies make up a significant portion, with 16%.
  • Large Cap: Larger companies constitute just over a tenth of the market, at 11%.
  • Mega Cap: The largest companies, or Mega Caps, are rare, making up only 1%.

This distribution illustrates a market heavily populated by smaller companies, showcasing a vibrant, diverse economic landscape dominated by Micro and Small Cap companies.

Sector-Wise:

Summary of the average trading volume per sector is as below:

  • Consumer Discretionary: Leads with the highest trading volume.
  • Energy and Technology: These sectors show substantial trading activity, closely following Consumer Discretionary.
  • Finance: Has relatively lower trading volumes compared to other sectors.
  • Unknown: Registers the lowest trading volume, indicating minimal trading activity.

Top 10 Traded Consumer Discretionary Stocks:

  • Leader: *SLNA leads with the highest trade volume, significantly higher than the rest.
  • Following Closely: FFIE and AMC have substantial volumes but significantly less than SLNA.
  • Bottom of the List: NKLA has the lowest trading volume among the top 10.

Selina Hospitality PLC (SLNA) operates within the Consumer Discretionary sector, focusing on products and services that are non-essential but desired by consumers. These could include items like apparel, entertainment, and luxury goods, which people tend to purchase more of when their income is higher.

Top 10 Traded Energy Stocks:

  • Leader: *PLUG stands out with the highest trading volume in the sector.
  • Following Closely: PBR follows with a strong trading volume but still less than PLUG.
  • Bottom of the List: BP has the lowest trading volume among the stocks.

Plug Power Inc. (PLUG) specializes in providing clean hydrogen and zero-emission fuel cells for electric motors that power an array of vehicles, including forklifts and other industrial equipment. They focus on solutions that replace conventional batteries in equipment and vehicles powered by electricity, enhancing efficiency with zero carbon emissions.

Top 10 Traded Technology Stocks:

  • Leader: *CRKN dominates with the highest trading volume in the sector.
  • Following Closely: AAPL shows strong trading volumes, but less than CRKN.
  • Bottom of the List: HOLO is at the lower end in terms of trading volume among the stocks.

Crown ElectroKinetics (CRKN) is a tech company that develops smart window technology to dynamically transition between clear and tinted states on demand. This technology aims to significantly reduce energy consumption in buildings by controlling the amount of heat and light that passes through windows, thus contributing to building energy efficiency and comfort.

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