S&P 500 at All-Time Highs; Palantir, Sandisk Rally as Bitcoin Slips Below $80K
Analysis
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) sits at all-time highs across multiple headlines, and the earnings flow behind it is strong with select caveats. Alphabet (GOOG) drew the most attention among the mega-caps: the stock slipped 2.2% after Sundar Pichai's earnings beat was inflated by a $77.1 billion unrealized gain on equity holdings, prompting debate over whether to discount that gain when judging the real growth story. A judge spared Alphabet from an ad-tech breakup but ordered changes, which analysts argue protects its AI war chest. Elsewhere in the season, Deere (DE) hit an all-time high this week, Gilead (GILD) won its third FDA approval in less than four months, and Morgan Stanley estimates Apple's foldable iPhone could generate $14 billion in December-quarter revenue for AAPL ahead of its report, with an inflation print looming as the next macro catalyst. The AI complex continued to set the tone on prices. Nvidia (NVDA) edged up 0.84% to $230.36 and headed the volume board on roughly 135.4 million shares, while Investor's Business Daily flagged buy signals on Nvidia, Micron (MU), and SanDisk (SNDK) — SNDK jumped 11.9% to $1,740 on 16.6 million shares. Palantir (PLTR) jumped 7.7% on an expanded PwC alliance, and Broadcom (AVGO) saw AI revenue soar even as Wall Street wants more. Intel (INTC) added 4.51% to $95.80 on 97.7 million shares, and the gainers board included NX +22.23% at $22.93, TYRA +15.25% to $28.65, TITN +14.85% to $26.22, AEHR +13.1% to $86.26, and COHU +10.31% to $50.72. On the other side of the tape, risk moved fast. Bitcoin (BTC-USD) dropped below $80,000 after strong jobs data, with ETF inflows collapsing 76% in a day. Tesla (TSLA) fell 5.92% to $354.08 on roughly 65 million shares after the Cybercab launch drew criticism — Gary Black called it 'largely a bust' and Elon Musk conceding the rare-earth-free motor was 'extremely hard' to achieve — while Lululemon (LULU) sank 17.38% to $100.61 on heavy 37.4 million-share volume, Guidewire (GWRE) shed 19.93% to $162.42, and Fair Isaac (FICO) dropped 16.68% to $932.26. Technical signals skew bearish: 39 bearish versus 11 bullish out of 1,489 total signals across 2,594 symbols. In a notable positioning tell, Berkshire CEO Greg Abel is reported to have trimmed bank stocks like Bank of America (BAC) and bought three names that benefit from lower yields — a bet on cuts in tension with the hot jobs backdrop.
Highlights
- S&P 500 (^GSPC) at all-time highs as AI leadership persists: NVDA +0.84% to $230.36 on ~135.4M shares heading the volume board, SNDK +11.9% to $1,740 on 16.6M shares, PLTR +7.7% on the PwC alliance, INTC +4.51% to $95.80
- Alphabet avoided an ad-tech breakup but was ordered to make changes — its AI war chest is protected; GOOG slipped only 2.2% after the $77.1B unrealized-gain-inflated beat
- Deere (DE) hit an all-time high this week; Gilead (GILD) won a third FDA approval in under four months; Morgan Stanley sizes the Apple foldable iPhone at $14B for the December quarter
Lowlights
- Bitcoin (BTC-USD) dropped below $80K after strong jobs data and ETF inflows collapsed 76% in a day
- TSLA -5.92% to $354.08 on ~65M shares as Gary Black called the Cybercab launch 'largely a bust'
- Heavy-volume single-name carnage: LULU -17.38% to $100.61 on 37.4M shares, GWRE -19.93% to $162.42, FICO -16.68% to $932.26; signals skew bearish at 11 bullish vs 39 bearish across 2,594 symbols
Bull News
- Investor's Business Daily flags buy signals on NVDA, MU, and SNDK; SNDK +11.9% to $1,740, PLTR +7.7% on the PwC alliance, INTC +4.51% to $95.80 on 97.7M shares
- Broadcom (AVGO) AI revenue soaring; Deere (DE) at an all-time high; Gilead (GILD) third FDA approval in less than four months
- Judge spared Alphabet from an ad-tech breakup (with ordered changes) — the AI war chest is intact; Berkshire's tech tilt and Taylor Morrison deal keep GOOGL in the money flow
Bear News
- Bitcoin (BTC-USD) below $80K and ETF inflows collapsing 76% in a day on the back of strong jobs data
- TSLA -5.92% to $354.08 after the Cybercab launch was called 'largely a bust'; GOOG -2.2% as investors debate discounting the $77.1B unrealized gain that inflated the beat
- LULU -17.38% to $100.61 on 37.4M shares, GWRE -19.93% to $162.42, FICO -16.68% to $932.26, ADSK -8.26% to $217.90 — overbought flags on MRNA ($145.55) and ARCT ($15.82) sit atop 39 bearish signals
The S&P 500 is holding all-time highs on a narrow rail: semiconductor and AI leadership (NVDA +0.84% to $230.36 on 135.4M shares, SNDK +11.9% to $1,740, PLTR +7.7%, INTC +4.51% to $95.80) against cooling crypto (BTC below $80K with ETF inflows -76%) and violent single-name swings (LULU -17.38% to $100.61, TSLA -5.92% to $354.08, GOOG -2.2% after its $77.1B unrealized-gain-inflated beat). With 39 bearish versus 11 bullish signals across 2,594 symbols, the constructive path favors names with proven catalysts and clean tape — the buy-signal semis, PLTR's PwC-backed momentum, DE at record highs, GILD's approval pipeline — while de-risking heavily traded losers and the rate debate until Apple's report and the inflation print force a resolution; Abel's reported shift away from BAC into lower-yield beneficiaries is the swing factor to watch for the rate call.