Investing.com -- U.S. stocks traded in a mixed fashion Monday, remaining near record highs as investors looked to key inflation data this week for more cues on interest rates.
At the market close, the S&P 500 lost 15.7 points, or 0.29%. It ended the day at 5,447.87 points, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 190.19 points, or 1.09%, to 17,499.17.
On the other hand, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.67% to close the day at 39,408.32.
The main indices remain close to all-time highs, boosted by the enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence. The broad-based S&P 500 index is up almost 15% so far this year, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite has gained almost 18%. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average has lagged, by contrast, gaining just under 4% in the first half of the year.
These healthy gains open up the possibility of profit-taking, with as much as 52% of respondents to a Bloomberg survey saying they believe the S&P 500 is overpriced.
Moreover, 49% of respondents said they see the next S&P 500 10% correction to start sometimes in 2024. Similarly, 55% said they expect to keep the same S&P 500 exposure over the next month.
PCE inflation due this week
Markets are focused chiefly this week on PCE inflation data, which is due Friday.
The reading is the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, and is likely to tie into the central bank’s stance on interest rate cuts.
The PCE reading is expected to show inflation cooled slightly in May, but remained well above the Fed’s 2% annual target.
Expectations of an eventual lowering in interest rates had driven Wall Street indexes to record highs through June, even as the Fed signaled that sticky inflation and a strong economy kept chances of such a scenario slim.
Fedex, Micron earnings on tap
Some key quarterly earning prints were also on tap this week.
Delivery and logistics firm FedEx (NYSE:FDX), whose earnings are also viewed as a bellwether for global economic activity, is set to report its earnings for the quarter ended May on Tuesday.
Memory chip maker Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU) is set to report its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, after forecasting a major demand spike from the fast growing artificial intelligence industry.
Sports apparel maker Nike (NYSE:NKE) and pharmaceutical retailer Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA) are set to report earnings on Thursday.
Crude edges higher on demand hopes
Crude prices stabilized Monday after the previous week’s positive tone on signs of stronger oil products demand in the U.S., world's largest consumer.
By 09:35 ET, the U.S. crude futures (WTI) traded 0.1% lower at $80.66 a barrel, while the Brent contract edged higher to $84.35 per barrel.
Both benchmarks gained around 3% last week after data from the Energy Information Administration showed a hefty drawdown in U.S. crude stockpiles, pointing to healthy demand as the summer driving season kicks into top gear.
The market also received support from worsening geopolitical conditions as the risk of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, as an extension of the conflict with Hamas, rises, playing into expectations of supply disruptions in the Middle East.
Continued clashes between Russia and Ukraine, with Kyiv targeting major Russian refineries, also spurred concerns over supply disruptions.
(Ambar Warrick and Peter Nurse contributed to this article.)