Major U.S. Equities Finish Little Changed After Sharp Sell-Off 務

Wall Street Seesaw: Darden Rises as Lamb Weston Crash

Thursday saw a mixed bag for Wall Street, with the major indexes treading water after a sharp sell-off the day before. While investors digested the Federal Reserve’s seemingly muted interest rate cut path for 2025, promising economic growth data failed to spark a sustained rally.

A Glimpse at Thursday’s Performance

• The S&P 500 dipped 0.1%, while the Nasdaq Composite mirrored this decline.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average managed a sliver of a gain, less than 0.1%, snapping a streak of ten consecutive downward days.

High Flyers and Low Flyes:

• Darden Restaurants emerged as the biggest winner, with shares surging nearly 15% on robust second-quarter earnings boosted by strong performance at its LongHorn Steakhouse chain.

• On the flip side, Lamb Weston, a leading frozen potato products supplier, plummeted 20% after reporting an unexpected quarterly loss and lowering its full-year outlook. The appointment of a new CEO failed to quell investor anxiety.

• Micron Technology, a major chipmaker, also took a hit, with shares dropping 16% after issuing lower-than-expected sales guidance for the current quarter, citing weak consumer demand.

Mixed Signals

While positive economic indicators provided a flicker of hope, concerns about interest rates and slowing consumer spending continued to weigh on investor sentiment. The divergent performance of companies like Darden and Lamb Weston highlights the current market volatility, fueled by a mix of macroeconomic factors and company-specific news.

What’s Next?

The Federal Reserve’s next monetary policy decision is eagerly awaited, as investors seek clarity on its stance on interest rate cuts. Earnings season continues, with more companies slated to report in the coming weeks, providing further insights into the health of the economy. Stay tuned as the market navigates these uncertain waters.

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