Dow Jones Nears 18-Month Highs After Benign CPI Data

 | Aug 11, 2023 12:52AM ET

  • The DJIA has been outperforming the previously high-flying Nasdaq 100 for the last three weeks, marking a potential turning point in the growth vs. value trade.
  • Benign CPI data and the uptick in initial unemployment claims reduce the odds of another Fed rate hike next month.
  • The Dow is holding near 18-month highs, and a break above 35,700 resistance could pave the way for a continuation toward 36K or even the record highs at 37K.
  • With the vast majority of earnings season behind us, it’s clear that large publicly-traded corporations were able to capitalize on Q2’s economic backdrop by more than expected. According to the earnings mavens at FactSet, nearly 80% of the companies in the S&P 500 beat earnings estimates and roughly two-thirds beat analysts’ revenue estimates.

    At the same time, investors have been rotating slightly away from the fast-growing but highly-valued technology and communications stocks that have driven much of this year’s rally in favor of so-called “value” stocks. At an index level, this shift has benefited the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) at the expense of the previously high-flying Nasdaq 100, with the former rising roughly 3% from July 19, while the former has fallen by more than 3% over the same period.

    Whether this brief period of value over growth outperformance continues remains to be seen, but after such a long period of strength in growth stocks, readers should at least be monitoring this potential turning point.

    h2 Dow Technical Analysis – DJIA Daily Chart/h2