S&P, Nasdaq extend year-start skid to three; Dow higher on financials

US stock market: The S&P 500 (.SPX) and Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) closed lower on Thursday, extending their losing streak that kicked off 2024, although the Dow Jones Industrial (.DJI) eked out a win on the back of financial stocks and strong jobs data.

For the S&P 500, this is the worst start to a year since it began 2015 with a three-session skid, as tech-focused investors continued to take profits after a blistering rally in the final weeks of last year.

Bets that the Federal Reserve could start reducing rates this year had driven much of the gains toward the end of 2023, though the latest minutes from the central bank's December policy meeting did not offer many clues on when the easing might commence.

A tick-up in yields on longer-dated U.S. Treasuries - the benchmark 10-year note ended at 4per cent - prompted traders to move away from growth stocks toward other sectors.

Financials (.SPSY) was one of the few gainers among the S&P 500 sectors, underpinned by Allstate (ALL.N), which rose 2.4per cent to close at an all-time high after Morgan Stanley lifted its rating on the insurer to "overweight."

Other insurers also rose, including Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG.N), which gained 0.7per cent to its highest finish since 2008.

Banks were strong performers ahead of the start of earnings season next week. JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) and Truist Financial Corp (TFC.N) were among those which advanced, up 0.7per cent and 1.3per cent respectively, after both received positive analyst reports from BofA Global Research.

Last year was one of substantial upheaval in the banking sector, as institutions managed the impact of rapid increases in central bank rates on their balance sheets.

Banks should benefit in 2024 from lower-yielding investments rolling off and being reinvested in new securities with higher yields, said Ian Lapey, portfolio manager of The Gabelli Global Financial Services Fund.

Coupled with rotation out of more speculative, growth names, banks with strong management teams will reward investors, he added.

"We're setting up for significant relative outperformance of the strongly managed and financed banks and other financials, as compared to other, more expensive areas of the market."

Among the latest economic data, the ADP National Employment report showed U.S. private employers hired more workers than expected in December, pointing to persistent labor market strength that should continue to sustain the economy. This came ahead of official U.S. employment data due on Friday.

Meanwhile, the weekly Labor Department report showed more Americans filed for state unemployment claims than expected.

The S&P 500 (.SPX) lost 16.13 points, or 0.34per cent, to end at 4,688.68 points, while the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) lost 81.91 points, or 0.56per cent, at 14,510.3. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) rose 10.15 points, or 0.03per cent, to 37,440.34.

Most S&P sectors were down, led by energy (.SPNY) which fell 1.6per cent after a massive U.S. fuel inventory build pushed crude prices lower.

A number of big-tech names also ended lower, with Amazon.com Inc <AMZN.O> down 2.6per cent and Alphabet Inc <GOOGL.O> declining 1.8per cent. Apple (AAPL.O) shares slid 1.3per cent after brokerage Piper Sandler downgraded the iPhone maker to "neutral," days after Barclays also cut its rating.

Mobileye Global (MBLY.O) sank 24.5per cent after forecasting preliminary fiscal 2024 revenue below estimates, while Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA.O) dropped 5.1per cent after the U.S. pharmacy chain nearly halved its dividend.

The volume on U.S. exchanges was 11.13 billion shares, compared with the 12.30 billion average over the last 20 trading days.