Interest rates going nowhere
Central-bank action around the globe continues to fuel this market surge. Australia’s central bank slashed interest rates today after the European Central Bank cut its own rates to a record low last week. Although U.S. unemployment fell in April, the 7.5% jobless rate means that the American labor market is still far from safe — don’t expect interest rates to rise anytime soon in the U.S. While some observers have questioned how the low rates will impact institutional lending, the easy-borrowing climate has so far kept stocks climbing and investors happy.
It certainly hasn’t hurt bank stocks, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) shares are on the rise again today, up 1.9% today to continue its 11.9% year-to-date run-up. While JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) struggles with regulatory scrutiny, some advisory firms are campaigning to shake up the company’s board and split CEO and chairman Jamie Dimon’s dual leadership role. While many have pointed to JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM)’s “London Whale” losses last year as evidence that change is needed, others still hold that the bank is most effectively run with Dimon in both posts.
Outside of the banking sphere, shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) have risen 1.6% today. The company has done well maintaining its place atop the telecommunications sector lately, and it got a boost today after Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) released teaser ads of its new Lumia 928 phone, to be offered by Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) Wireless in the U.S.
Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) leadership sees Lumia growth picking up, a trend that will undoubtedly help Verizon maintain its place as the top wireless carrier in the U.S. — especially on the heels of Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK)’s Lumia 822 launch.
On the other side of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow Jones Indices:.DJI), some major tech stocks aren’t having such a good day. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) shares have fallen 1.2% after the company announced that it will release an update for Windows 8 later this year. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) claimed to have sold 100 million Windows 8 licenses, but reception for the operating system has been mixed at best. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s update, under a software set dubbed with the code name “Blue,” aims to apply the lessons of Windows 8’s launch, although the company has yet to release details.
Today’s biggest loser is Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), down 2%. There’s little news out on the company, but this stock hasn’t performed anywhere near so well as the Dow at large in 2013: Year to date, shares have only gained 3.8%.
The article JPMorgan Leads the Dow to Record Highs originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Dan Carroll.
Fool contributor Dan Carroll has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Cisco Systems. The Motley Fool owns shares of JPMorgan Chase and (NYSE:JPM) Microsoft.
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