Investor sentiment soured on Thursday as a selloff in health care challenged optimism over the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise interest rates.
The S&P 500 was down 0.16% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.07%. The Nasdaq rose slightly, by 0.01%.
Biogen (BIIB) led health care sector losses after being downgraded from overweight to equal weight at Morgan Stanley. Analysts said they see limited upside for the stock in the near term and that the change was not a “downside” but a “timing” call.
Markets “had expected [a rate hike] and they had been very clear in telegraphing that to the Fed as well,” Bodhi Ganguli, lead economist at Dun & Bradstreet, said in a phone call. “There was relief that we’re on this path to normalization… It basically signals confidence in the U.S. economy, both from the Fed and the markets. If the markets didn’t believe it, they wouldn’t have reacted positively.”
Crude oil prices fluctuated on Thursday, leveling off after a days-long selloff followed by a one-day rally on Wednesday. Crude surged a day earlier after a weekly reading on domestic stockpiles showed a surprise decrease. Prices had been under pressure after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries raised its forecasts for non-member output this year and the International Energy Agency said global oil supplies increased last month.
West Texas Intermediate crude was down 0.2% to $48.75 a barrel on Thursday.
Jobless claims in the U.S. remained at multi-year lows over the past week. The number of new claims for unemployment benefits decreased by 2,000 to 241,000 in the past week. The less-volatile, four-week claims average rose by 750 to 237,250.
The U.S. housing market remained robust in February as high demand and constrained inventory pushed housing starts higher. Starts increased 3% in February to an annual rate of 1.29 million. Starts for single-family housing rose to its best level since October 2007. Permits fell 6.2% to a rate of 1.21 million.
Business conditions in the Philadelphia region deteriorated slightly in March, according to the latest Philly Fed Index. The business outlook declined to 32.8 in March from 43.3 in February. Analysts expected a sharper drop to a reading of 30. The measure reached its highest level in 33 years in February.
Donald Trump unveiled a $1.15 trillion budget that slashes a dozen departments to finance a significant increase in the military and make a down payment on a U.S.-Mexico border wall. The ‘America First’ budget includes a $54 billion increase in military spending and proposes massive cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Snap (SNAP) traded at its lowest level ever on Thursday, finishing down 4% following days of declines. The disappearing app messenger fell after being initiated at sell with a $15 price target by MoffettNathanson analysts. The firm cited risks like slowing daily active user growth, limited revenue and profitability.
Canada Goose (GOOS) opened for trading on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday morning. The outerwear brand made its market debut at $18 a share.
Oracle (ORCL) rose 6% after exceeding quarterly estimates on its bottom line and raising its dividend. Adjusted earnings of 69 cents a share beat consensus by 7 cents, while sales rose 2.1% to $9.2 billion. The tech company increased its dividend to 19 cents a share from 15 cents. The company has made strides in its cloud computing capabilities, particularly after its recent acquisition of cloud software developer NetSuite.
Guess? (GES) tumbled 11% after issuing a soft outlook. The apparel retailer anticipates a first-quarter loss of 30 cents to 33 cents a share, deeper than an estimates loss of 23 cents. Same-store sales are expected to fall in the mid-to-high teens percentage range. Fourth-quarter earnings also missed estimates.
GoPro (GPRO) surged 16% after affirming its first-quarter guidance at the high-end of its previous range of $190 million to $210 million. The action camera maker also announced restructuring efforts that will reduce adjusted operating expenses to below $495 million. GoPro also announced an additional 270 job cuts.
Tesla (TSLA) increased nearly 3% after announcing a stock sale. The electric automaker offered $250 million in common stock and $750 million in convertible senior notes due in 2022. Tesla said proceeds from the sale would “strengthen its balance sheet and further reduce any risks associated with the rapid scaling of its business due to the launch of Model 3.”
Technology company 3M (MMM) announced Thursday that it will purchase Scott Safety, Johnson Control International’s (JCI) safety gear business, for $2 billion. 3M said it anticipates the deal will add 10 cents a share to adjusted profit in the first 12 months after closing. The deal is expected to be finalized in the second half of this year.
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