As buybacks hit records last year (about $800 billion), a predictable political backlash developed. » Read More
By: Bob Pisani
First the global slowdown clobbered them at the end of last year, then the China trade war intensifying clobbered them again in May, then the Huawei ban, then Japan's export restrictions against South Korea. » Read More |
There's lots of excitement that tech superstar Chamath Palihapitiya's Social Capital Hedosophia is buying a 49% stake (roughly $800 million) in Virgin Galactic to do space flights.
The first half of 2019 was a big surprise to many IPO investors.
Earnings estimates are essentially "flattish" for 2019 from 2018. This puts stock investors in a difficult position.
When these companies do well, the markets do, too.
Workplace messaging firm Slack is about to go public in a red-hot IPO market, but it's approach to going public--using a "direct listing"--is slightly different than an IPO.
IPO watchers were fearful an avalanche of IPOs would cause a crash in the market, but the big tech unicorns have been winners so far.
The average account value for an investor age 65 and older was $192,877.
The SEC has voted to approve a financial investment reform package.
Traders are concerned there is another shoe to drop: more retaliatory measures from China, which may or may not come in the form of tariffs.
Wall Street is increasingly concerned that this is more about the 2020 election than about U.S.-China trade.
According to Renaissance Capital, 42 IPOs have priced this year. The average first-day pop has been 22%, well above the average of 13% to 15%.
Higher tariffs and the absence of a trade deal will force investors to lower estimates for the earnings multiple associated with higher global growth.
The market is pricey — the forward earnings multiple for the S&P 500 is over 17, well above the historic norm of 15 to 16.
Jeffrey Hirsch, who runs Stock Trader's Almanac, says he's fairly bullish about the short-term prospects for the market.
With 261 companies reporting in the S&P 500, earnings are up 0.7% on a blended rate, according to Refinitiv.
SEC Chairman Jay Clayton is making awareness of the retirement crisis a priority for the agency.
A CNBC reporter since 1990, Bob Pisani covers Wall Street from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
Data also provided by 
