Markets End Mixed on Jobs Data and Powell's Comments

By
Bill McColl
Bill McColl
Full Bio

Bill McColl has 25+ years of experience as a senior producer and writer for TV, radio, and digital media leading teams of anchors, reporters, and editors in creating news broadcasts, covering some of the most notable news stories of the time.

Learn about our editorial policies
Published March 08, 2023
Table showing the performance of major U.S. financial indexes on March 8, 2023

Investopedia

Key Takeaways

  • Major U.S. equities indexes were mixed on March 8, with the chair of the Fed wrapping up Congressional testimony and concerns over labor market data.
  • The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 ended Wednesday's session with minimal gains, while the Dow closed slightly lower.
  • The potential for lower rates sent oil futures lower, which sank stocks in the fossil fuel industry.

U.S. equities finished mixed amid concerns about what new jobs data and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments to Congress might mean for interest rates. The Dow lost early gains and never fully recovered, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq made a late-day comeback to finish in the green.

Shares of semiconductor companies rose. ON Semiconductor (ON) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) were the two best-performing stocks in the S&P 500, while Intel (INTC) was the leading gainer in the Dow. Molson Coors (TAP) shares advanced on speculation the maker of Coors, Miller, and other beer brands might be a takeover target.

Shares of Caterpillar (CAT) and Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) added 1%. Opko Health (OPK) shares moved higher as the healthcare company and Merck (MRK) signed a licensing deal for Opko's experimental Epstein-Barr vaccine. Shares of Merck declined.

Tesla (TSLA) shares dropped as safety regulators announced investigations into the electric carmaker, and an analyst downgraded the stock. Brown-Forman (BF.B) shares slipped after the maker of Jack Daniel's whiskey reported a big drop in profit. Shares of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), Carnival Corporation (CCL), and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) all sank. Shares of Silvergate Capital (SI) are plunging over 34% in extended trading after the struggling cryptocurrency bank said that it would wind down operations and liquidate.

Oil Prices Decline

The possibility of higher rates sent oil futures lower, and that dragged down shares of fossil fuel producers. One that gained, however, was Occidental Petroleum (OXY) after Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) boosted its stake in the company.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was flat, as were gold prices. Wheat futures tumbled to their lowest level since the summer of 2021. The U.S. dollar gained versus the euro and yen but fell against the pound. Prices for major cryptocurrencies were mixed.

Table showing the S&P 500 stocks with the biggest gains and losses on March 8, 2023

Investopedia
Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

  1. Business Wire. "Silvergate Capital Corporation Announces Intent to Wind Down Operations and Voluntarily Liquidate Silvergate Bank."

Take the Next Step to Invest
×
The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where listings appear. Investopedia does not include all offers available in the marketplace.
Service
Name
Description