US stocks erased opening gains on Thursday as investors braced for Netflix (NFLX) to kick earnings season into high gear.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) hovered near the flatline while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose about 0.3% after closing lower in the prior session. The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell 0.3%, adding to Wednesday’s losses.
Stocks have struggled amid concerns inflation is no longer cooling and the Federal Reserve could ease back on interest rate cuts. That has put corporate earnings center stage as investors watch closely how well reports match up with high expectations.
TSMC’s (TSM) latest quarterly results point to signs of strong AI demand while the the Taiwanese chip giant, gave a more cautious outlook for the global market outside memory chips. The company however flagged “insatiable” appetite for AI as it posted a quarterly profit beat.
The earnings spotlight now shifts to Netflix, as the focus shifts to tech stocks, including the “Magnificent” group of companies. The streaming leader’s financial update later Thursday is seen by some as the first real test for stocks this earnings season, given megacap techs are still playing a big part in pushing markets higher.
Meanwhile, the market is still keeping one eye on debate over whether the Federal Reserve could hold off from cutting interest rates this year, given the chances of a “no landing” for the economy. Appearances by policymakers including John Williams and Raphael Bostic are on the docket for Thursday.
Initial jobless claims for the week ending April 13 came in at 212,000, according to Department of Labor data released on Thursday. The reading came in below a consensus estimate of 215,000 compiled by Bloomberg.
US bond yields slipped from recent five-month highs, easing pressure on stocks. The 10-year Treasury yield (^TNX) was trading near 4.56%.
Live3 updates