U.S equities indices ended the trading week with minor variations amidst a series of significant economic data releases. Traders largely project another reduction in interest rates in the forthcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting, scheduled next week. This is in spite of persistent inflation indicators. The S&P 500 saw little change during the closing of Friday's trading period, with a 0.2% drop in the Dow and a slight 0.1% rise in the Nasdaq.
Broadcom's (AVGO) stocks rose staggeringly by 24.4%, achieving a record high, pushing its market cap above $1 trillion. The leap followed the chipmaker surpassing revenue and profit predictions in its fiscal Q4 results. The firm remarked that its AI sales in fiscal 2024 tripled compared to the previous year. The growth in its AI revenue led several analysts to upscale their stock pricing predictions. This established Broadcom as the highest performer in Friday's S&P 500.
Lamb Weston (LW), a manufacturer of frozen French fries and other potato products, witnessed a 6.8% surge in its share following buyout negotiation reports with Post Holdings, a notable packaged goods corporation known for its breakfast cereals. An activist investor reportedly pressured Lamb Weston to consider selling the company.
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) shares also experienced a 6.8% hike. Earlier in the week, the drugstore chain's stocks had soared on the back of reports that the company was considering a sale to private equity firm Sycamore Partners. Despite a momentary drop in shares, they regained ground on Friday.
Shares in Arista Networks (ANET) increased by 5.1% to reach an all-time high. Citi analysts stated that the networking hardware supplier could potentially benefit significantly from the AI demand surge, citing increasing requirements for data center switches. Arista recently executed a 4-to-1 stock split on December 4.
On the downside, Nucor (NUE) shares fell close to 4.7%, following a previous session loss after UBS downgraded the steelmaker's stocks from "buy" to "neutral". The predicted trade policies under the forthcoming administration had previously initiated a steel stocks rally following the U.S presidential election. Nonetheless, analysts specified a less favorable risk/reward assessment in the wake of these gains.
Finally, Super Micro Computer's (SMCI) stocks dipped by 3.9%. The decrease is linked to growing worries over the potential removal of its stocks from the Nasdaq 100. The server maker's shares have been unstable since the delay of its annual regulatory filing, which arose due to queries about its accounting procedures and the resignation of its audit firm.