Nasdaq today, Dow Jones Futures: S&P 500 Hits High As Astera,

 Nasdaq today, Dow Jones Futures: S&P 500 Hits High As Astera,

Nasdaq today, Dow Jones Futures: S&P 500 Hits High As Astera,Let’s take a look at the markets. We see that the S&P has risen by approximately 0.7 percent and is approaching an all-time high. This is driven by expectations that Corporate America.

will report strong profits when earnings season kicks off next week and will successfully weather the energy shock.The technology-heavy index has also gained ground; meanwhile, Nvidia...appears poised to reach the $6 trillion market capitalization milestone.

Fluctuations in oil prices today helped ease pressure on Treasury bonds.specifically the 10-year bond yield, which is currently down by about 0.3 percent.Romain: It looks like the index is truly ready to set new highs, provided it holds this level. It is up about 6 percent from the two-month low seen in September. 

nasdaq index today,I don't see anything.to suggest that this CapEx (capital expenditure) cycle is coming to an end. At some point, the cure for high interest rates is high interest rates themselves. I don't think we can sustain this run of significant gains. Romain: Apple, Nvidia, Meta, Microsoft, AMD, Micron—these are the companies.that have been driving the market upward since August. Bank of America...

strategists say, however, that sitting out this narrow rally means risking underperformance. Overall, the 'risk premium' (expected excess return) for holding stocks has all but vanished. Valuations currently hinge on earnings, which means the importance of yields (rates of return on investment) has grown significantly.

A renewed surge in these rates could ignite an unintended 'fire' that harms us all. Earnings projections for 2026 are stellar. Regarding the third-quarter earnings season, analysts expect an average 25% increase in earnings per share (EPS) for the S&P.

This figure is projected to rise further in the fourth quarter, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Unsurprisingly, the technology and energy sectors are leading the way.

UBS's perspective on earnings, yields, and the market rally: Let’s begin the conversation with Ellie McCartney. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Likewise. Romain: Regarding the interplay between stocks and yields—and whether the market can withstand the burden of higher yields—I believe it has been proven that it can.

Our baseline expectation is that we are at, or have already passed, the peak yield levels; when you observe the market's reaction to this, the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio has contracted by approximately 17%. During a recession, valuation multiples typically contract by 20 to 30 percent;

consequently, significant discounting has occurred. We observe the market anticipating further rate hikes—and we believe you should expect that as well.

We anticipate two, perhaps three, more hikes, but nothing beyond that. Therefore, many bonds currently appear highly attractive, especially when yields reach levels not seen in a very long time—or even centuries.

Are you suggesting a shift towards fixed-income assets?

Yes, nasdaq composite today, particularly for holders of municipal bonds in California and New York.You can invest in bonds with 10% or 15% coupons—even after absorbing some capital losses—that offer taxable-equivalent yields in the 9% to 11% range.

Nevertheless, we believe the returns from the equity market will be significantly higher. As you just mentioned, we expect earnings to grow by 25% this year, followed by 15% growth next year.

Looking back, 80% of companies outperformed expectations, with results exceeding forecasts by approximately 30% more than usual. So, while we have seen a broadening of market scope—and a resurgence in the 'Magnificent 7' (major tech companies) and the AI ​​trend—there are numerous other areas involved as well, ranging from GDP to corporate earnings.

Consider 'reshoring' (bringing production back domestically), investment, and infrastructure development driven by that 'big, wonderful bill' (legislation); we are seeing massive investment.

Sally: You also hold a positive outlook on utilities; in the context of AI, one could argue that the market is underestimating the infrastructure and energycapacity required for computing needs—but is there any risk that.

As we head toward the midterm elections, this is our current situation. However, we believe that the most likely outcome of the midterms is a 'divided government,'dow and nasdaq today, which implies that we have another two years before seeing any significant change. A Democratic 'sweep' would likely be the scenario of greatest concern for the markets,

but with a Republican in office who holds veto power, we do not anticipate major hurdles or restrictions over the next two years. We must recognize that the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is upon us. We are already witnessing the developments we need to see—namely, progress in adoption and the beginning of cost reductions associated with tokenization. This process will require consolidation,

so the pace of development might be somewhat measured, but we certainly need energy and chips. We remain bullish on both sectors. Sally: If we do end up with a divided government and political gridlock in Washington,

which sectors would be most insulated from policy-related issues, and what would be the status of reforms concerning matters like Social Security? Ellie: We are likely to see very slim majorities,

so compromise will be inevitable. Once again, any progress over the next two years will require compromise between Congress and the White House (the Oval Office). We have always maintained that investment decisions should not hinge on any single election, but rather on the potential for long-term policy shifts arising from it.

Therefore, especially considering current yields and the timing of the election, I anticipate a relatively quiet month for fixed-income investments.

The stock market (equities) will be driven by the earnings data we begin to see next week.and then, perhaps during and immediately after the election, the market may experience a pause or a period of consolidation as it tries to digest the implications of the situation.

Eventually, the risk appetite will return to the market, and—likely in the first quarter of next year—discussions will arise regarding the long-term impacts of Social Security and AI, which are currently the most significant and critical issues.

Romain: Regarding public versus private markets and long-term portfolio strateg when you look at how people structure their portfolios, is it still primarily a matter of public markets (stocks or fixed income)?

Ellie: That’s an excellent question. First of all, public equities (publicly traded stocks) have delivered exceptional performance over the past three or four years—and even prior to that.

It has now become easier than ever to construct a portfolio without significant exposure to private assets. No one can really talk about them... we have observed these matters privately.

Debt-based funds have emerged, and we have seen both sides of the coin.nasdaq stock market today, Having gone through the Lehman experience, I can tell you one thing with certainty: when times are tough, when yields rise,

and when concerns arise regarding financial stability or capacity—at the government or management level, you want to know exactly what you hold and how agile and nimble you are in handling the situation.

At the highest level of 'family offices,' there are now more individuals than ever operating and trading like expert, informed institutions. Private ownership plays a major role there, and I believe

that when you reach the stage where questions about sustainability begin to surface—as has happened over the past two years—then mergers, hedge funds (including macro hedge funds), and the ability to capitalize on growing global divergences

will certainly become part of reinvestment portfolios. Romain: why is nasdaq down today, Ellie, it’s great to have you here. It’s been a long time. You spoke about your long tenure on Wall Street and your experience with various financial structures. As a Managing Director of Wealth Management at UBS Alignment Partners, you will be kicking off the program.

A detailed look at Skydance; a conversation with Alisha Busch regarding the impact of the deal closing today. Sally: Additionally, Zscaler CEO Jay Chaudhry will be joining us live.

Romaine: And Jaime Magyera, Head of Wealth Management at BlackRock, will also be joining us. All this and more coming up shortly. This is "The Close" on Bloomberg.

Romaine: Now it’s time for our 'Top Calls' Nasdaq today,  stocks expected to see significant movement based on analyst recommendations.Starting with Procter & Gamble; given the improved outlook for future growth.

READ MORE: Dow Jones Futures: S&P 500 Hits High As Astera, GE

FAQ US:

What is happening with the Nasdaq today?

The Nasdaq entered October 7 after closing at another record high. Technology and artificial-intelligence stocks remained important drivers of the rally, with investors also looking ahead to corporate earnings and Federal Reserve policy signals.

What are Dow Jones futures doing?

Early Wednesday trading showed Dow Jones futures little changed, while S&P 500 futures were slightly higher and Nasdaq futures were roughly flat. Futures can change considerably before the regular market opens, so they do not necessarily predict the final direction of the session.

Did the S&P 500 hit a new high?

Yes. The S&P 500 closed at 7,818.93 on October 6, a record closing level. It also briefly reached a new intraday record during the session.

Why is Astera Labs attracting attention?

Astera Labs was among the technology stocks highlighted as a leading buy candidate as investors continued to favor companies benefiting from artificial-intelligence and data-center growth.

What other stocks are being watched?

Along with Astera Labs, market coverage highlighted companies including GE Vernova, Caterpillar, Bloom Energy, Arista Networks and Quanta Services. Several biotechnology and testing stocks, however, experienced significant declines.

What is driving the U.S. stock-market rally?

Investor optimism about AI-related growth and corporate earnings has been a major factor. Easing Treasury yields also helped support equities, while investors continued to monitor energy prices and geopolitical risks.

What should investors watch next?

Investors are watching the Federal Reserve's September meeting minutes, Treasury yields, oil prices and the approaching third-quarter earnings season. These factors could influence whether the record-setting rally continues.