By Peter Bergman (MoneyAmped.com)
Microsoft once again claims the prestigious position of the world’s most valuable company as Nvidia’s stock declines. Wall Street is poised for a peaceful start, with Boeing on the verge of reclaiming authority over Spirit AeroSystems.
Microsoft Regains Its Position as the Frontrunner, at Least for the Time Being
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has once again claimed the coveted position of being the world’s most valuable company, as Nvidia’s shares declined over 3% on Thursday.
Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), which saw its market capitalization exceed that of Microsoft on Tuesday, experienced a decline of over $100 billion, resulting in a closing market value of $3.21 trillion.
Microsoft’s market value also declined, reaching $3.31 trillion, as its shares experienced a slight drop during Thursday’s session.
Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) are currently competing to be the top contender for the title of the world’s most valuable company. The market capitalization of Apple, the maker of the iPhone, stands at an impressive $3.22 trillion.
Nevertheless, this could be a minor setback in Nvidia’s seemingly unstoppable ascent, as its stock has nearly tripled in value this year.
Nvidia is leading the way in a significant technological change as the primary supplier of chips for artificial intelligence applications. Anticipated revenues are set to increase twofold this fiscal year, reaching an impressive $120 billion, and are projected to climb further to $160 billion in the subsequent year.
In contrast, Microsoft, a prominent software company, is projected to experience a revenue increase of approximately 16% during its fiscal year.
“According to Wedbush analysts, Nvidia’s GPU chips have become precious assets in the tech sector, comparable to gold or oil. With the rapid adoption of these chips by enterprises and consumers, it is evident that the 4th Industrial Revolution is already in full swing.”
The investment company highlights Nvidia’s significant role in data center AI expenditure, positioning it as a crucial participant in the AI revolution. It is worth noting that all generative AI applications heavily depend on Nvidia’s GPUs.
According to Wedbush’s forecast, a significant majority of businesses are expected to embrace AI applications in the coming years. This widespread adoption is projected to result in a substantial increase in AI investment, estimated to reach a staggering $1 trillion over the next ten years.
Futures Remain Unchanged Before Important Activity Data
U.S. stock futures remained relatively stable on Friday. They are poised for a positive week as investors anticipate the release of significant activity data.
At 04:00 ET (08:00 GMT), the Dow futures contract experienced a decline of 60 points, equivalent to a 0.2% decrease. Similarly, the S&P 500 futures saw a drop of 4 points, or 0.1%. On the other hand, Nasdaq 100 futures displayed a slight increase of 10 points or 0.1%.
The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite both declined on Thursday due to losses in popular stock Nvidia. The former decreased by 0.3%, while the latter dropped by 0.8%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was the top performer, increasing by 0.8%—its most vigorous day so far this month.
With that being said, the three leading indices are set to achieve weekly gains. The S&P 500 is poised to experience an increase of 0.8%, the Nasdaq is showing a slight uptick of 0.2%, and the DJIA is expected to see a significant rise of 1.4%.
CarMax (NYSE: KMX) is set to release its quarterly earnings, while investors will be closely monitoring the June Purchasing Managers’ Index readings in the manufacturing and services sectors. These indicators will provide valuable insights into the overall state of the U.S. economy.
May’s existing home sales data is also scheduled to be released.
Boeing Close to Finalizing Agreement to Repurchase Spirit Aerosystems
Reuters states that Boeing (NYSE:BA) is supposedly nearing an agreement to repurchase Spirit Aerosystems (NYSE: SPR), its former subsidiary.
The aircraft manufacturer began discussions earlier this year to reestablish ties with the supplier it had severed in 2005. Still, it ran into roadblocks due to Spirit’s partnership with Boeing’s main rival, Airbus.
The European consortium had previously threatened to veto any deal involving Boeing manufacturing parts for its latest designs.
Nevertheless, significant advancements have been achieved regarding this complex matter. Boeing and Airbus have effectively divided Spirit’s programs, with Boeing reclaiming some of the work and the European competitor taking on the rest.
Boeing’s decision to regain control of Spirit is intended to stabilize a crucial aspect of the supply chain for its top-rated aircraft following a mid-air incident involving a new 737 MAX in January.
British Public Debt Skyrockets
The upcoming U.K. general election is approaching, and there is a growing possibility of a change in government as Keir Starmer’s Labour Party maintains a significant lead over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives in the polls.
Nevertheless, the most recent data indicates the challenges that both parties will face in stabilizing the nation’s finances, as British public debt increased last month to its highest level as a percentage of the economy since 1961.
According to the Office for National Statistics, public sector net debt increased to 99.8% of gross domestic product in May, compared to 96.1% in the previous year.
Britain experienced a significant increase in public debt during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sluggish economic growth and a rise in Bank of England interest rates to a level not seen in 16 years also affected public finances.
Both political parties have expressed their commitment to maintaining current budget regulations and have promised not to increase the rates of income tax, value-added tax, or other significant taxes.
Crude Poised for Weekly Gains
Oil prices declined slightly on Friday but were poised to increase for a second consecutive week, thanks to indications of strengthening demand in the United States, the largest consumer of oil globally.
By 04:00 ET, both the WTI and Brent contracts had fallen 0.3% to $81.09 and $85.50 per barrel, respectively.
Both indices are trading close to their all-time highs, and they’re expected to post gains of over 3% this week.
U.S. crude oil inventories fell by 2.5 million barrels during the week ending June 14, as reported by the Energy Information Administration. This drawdown surpassed the anticipated drop of 2.2 million barrels.
In addition, data from the U.S. government indicated that the total product supplied, which measures the country’s demand, increased by 1.9 million barrels per day (bpd) during the week, reaching 21.1 million bpd.
