With 80% of 104 S&P companies topping Q2 expectations, both the S&P and Nasdaq neared record highs again lifting the Dow all day long to close 177 up.  The added good news was U.S. Trade Rep Robert Lighthizer traveling to China next week for more trade talks.  Even better was a deal reached with Congress for an extension on the debt limit and spending caps.  And with expectations that the Fed will cut rates next week, there was nothing but forward momentum today on volume of 6 billion shares. 

tue  JULY 23, 2019 / 5:10 pm 

Earnings and trade optimism push Wall St. toward record high

Noel Randewich

DJ: 27,349.19  +177.29       NAS: 8,251.40  +47.27        S&P:  3,005.47  +20.44     7/23

(Reuters) - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq approached record highs on Tuesday, lifted by upbeat quarterly reports from Coca-Cola and United Technologies and on optimism the United States would resolve its trade conflict with China.  Stocks extended gains late in the session after Bloomberg reported that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer would travel to Shanghai next week for face-to-face trade meetings with Chinese officials. 

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters on Tuesday the in-person talks to resolve the U.S.-China trade deal were a good sign.

The U.S. corporate earnings season is off to a strong start, with nearly 80% of 104 S&P 500 companies topping earnings expectations so far in the second quarter, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Coca-Cola Co (KO.N) surged 6.1% to a record high after the drink maker beat quarterly earnings expectations and raised its full-year organic revenue forecast.  Fellow Dow component United Technologies Corp (UTX.N) gained 1.5% after raising its full-year profit and sales outlook.

Also helping sentiment, U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. congressional leaders reached a deal on Monday on a two-year extension of the debt limit and federal spending caps that would avert a feared government default later this year. It would, however, add to rising budget deficits.  “The reaching of a debt ceiling agreement is positive news for all sectors at large, because it’s one additional question that gets removed from the outlook for growth and equities in general,” said Mike Loewengart, vice president of investment strategy at E*Trade Financial in New York.

Expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its policy-setting meeting next week have made investors more willing to buy stocks. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are less than half a percent below their record high closing levels set earlier this month.  The European Central Bank is expected to signal easier monetary policy when it meets on Thursday. The International Monetary Fund lowered its forecast for global growth this year and next, warning that more U.S.-China tariffs, auto tariffs or a disorderly Brexit could slow growth further.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 0.65% to end at 27,349.19, while the S&P 500 .SPX gained 0.68% to 3,005.47.  The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 0.58% to 8,251.40.

Investors also anticipate quarterly reports from top-tier growth companies Facebook Inc (FB.O) on Wednesday and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) and Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O), both on Thursday.  “If they disappoint on earnings, that could have a negative impact on (wider) share prices because they represent such a large portion of the market,” said Sam Stovall, CFRA chief market strategist. 

Overall profits of S&P 500 companies are expected to rise about 1% in the second quarter, according to Refinitiv, improving from a small decline estimated previously.  The S&P 500 industrials index .SPLRCI rose 1.2%, while the materials index .SPLRCM climbed 2.0%.

Shares of Travelers Companies Inc (TRV.N) fell 1.5% after the insurer’s second-quarter profit missed estimates. It said weather-related losses led to an 18% drop in underwriting gains.

Hasbro Inc (HAS.O) surged 9.95% and was the biggest gainer among S&P 500 companies after the toymaker reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue. 

Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.86-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.35-to-1 ratio favored advancers.  The S&P 500 posted 24 new 52-week highs and 3 new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 52 new highs and 117 new lows.

Volume on U.S. exchanges was 6.0 billion shares, compared with the 6.4 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.