US Stocks at Record Highs

Market Overview
Read time 1.4 minutes

Year To Date Performances:

1. Despite concerns about a slowing economy, geopolitical unrest, and political turmoil, the stock market continues to thrive. Investors are focusing on positive developments such as a robust economy, declining inflation, and breakthroughs in Big Tech, overshadowing potential threats. Economic data, especially around the strong labour market, has been encouraging. The Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes have not dampened market optimism, with no major crises emerging. This has led to a bullish sentiment, particularly around tech stocks and AI advancements. The market is also buoyed by consumer strength, with consumer sentiment at its most optimistic level since July 2021.

2. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken experienced a delay in his return from Davos due to a critical malfunction in his Boeing 737 aircraft. The issue, identified as an oxygen leak, couldn't be resolved, leading Blinken to switch to another jet from Brussels. Meanwhile, his aides and the press had to take commercial flights from Zurich. This incident, involving an older model of the 737, comes amid other challenges faced by Boeing, particularly with the 737 Max 9 planes. The occurrence also echoes similar technical problems encountered with government aircraft in other countries, such as those used by Canada's Prime Minister and the German government fleet.

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4. Headlines

   1. Apple Vision Pro Headsets sold out in 18 minutes after pre-orders opened on Friday.

   2. Meta shares hit all-time high as their rally from last year has continued into 2024.

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