Investing.com-- The S&P 500 slipped Wednesday, but the broadening out of the rally beyond tech kept losses in check ahead of key inflation data that will likely influence the Federal Reserve interest rate outlook.
By 16:00 ET (21:00 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 23 points, or 0.1%, S&P 500 fell 0.2%, lower and NASDAQ Composite dropped 0.6%.
Signs of cooling in economy ahead PCE inflation in focus
The U.S. economy expanded at a 3.2% annualized rate in the fourth quarter, revised slightly down from the previously reported 3.3% pace, and a drop from 4.9% growth the prior quarter.
"While the minimal revision to fourth-quarter GDP underscores the ongoing storyline of a strong economy and resilient consumer [...] momentum clearly slowed from an outsized rise of near 5% in the third quarter into year-end," Stifel said in a note.
The weaker growth data come just a day ahead of the PCE price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, that is likely to factor into the central bank’s outlook on interest rates.
"The positive economic outlook bodes well for corporate earnings," said Salvatore Ruscitti, U.S. equities strategist with MRB Partners. "Earnings growth should be less narrow this year, thereby supporting a broadening of equity market leadership."
Beyond Meat sizzles on margin outlook; TJX continues retail-earnings parade
Beyond Meat Inc (NASDAQ:BYND) surged over 30% after reporting better-than-expected quarterly revenue, and also forecasting a improved margins in the second-half of the year amid a turnaround plan.
“Our 2024 plan includes taking steps to steeply reduce operating expense and cash use,” Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown said in a statement.
TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX) rose 0.6% after the retailer reported higher-than-anticipated sales growth in the fourth quarter, but offered up soft future guidance, which some on Wall Street believe is conservative and likely beatable.
Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ:URBN), meanwhile, slumped nearly 13% on disappointing earnings.
Ebay shines on earnings stage, Bumble stumbles after app backtrack
E-commerce site eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) rose about 8% on stronger-than-expected earnings and guidance that likely paves the way for a return to mid-single-digit gross merchandise value growth in 2025, Deutsche Bank said in a note.
Online dating company Bumble (NASDAQ:BMBL) lost nearly 15% on weak revenue guidance amid plans to revamp its dating app to boost user growth. The stock will likely remain rangebound until there is "evidence of an improvement in the top of funnel in North America or the Bumble App relaunch accelerates revenue growth," UBS said in a note.
Crypto stocks surge as bitcoin tops $60K
Cryptocurrency stocks including Marathon Digital Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:MARA) and Coinbase Global Inc (NASDAQ:COIN) surged, with the latter hitting a new 52-week high, underpinned by a jump in bitcoin above $60,000.
The move higher comes ahead of the crypto's halvening -- expected as soon as April - that occurs roughly every four years and cuts the reward for mining new blocks in half.
Halvening events in both 2012, 2016, and 2020 had preceded previous bull runs for BTC.
(Peter Nurse, Ambar Warrick contributed to this article.)