Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over daily movements, we do like to keep an eye on market changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI -0.98%) pushed above the 16,000 mark for the first time ever, with the index up 40 points as of 10:45 a.m. EST. With the new record coming just six months after the Dow hit the 15,000 milestone, the speed of that advance has some wondering whether the pace of the Dow's bull market run is unsustainable. But good news from Boeing (BA 1.51%) points to fundamental strength supporting the rise, and JPMorgan Chase (JPM 0.15%) and Goldman Sachs (GS -0.71%) also both posted strong gains.
Boeing led all Dow stocks with a 2.2% jump after the aircraft manufacturer received a huge order from airline Emirates to buy 150 777X airplanes. The order, which came from the Dubai Airshow, adds up to $76 billion in potential revenue for Boeing. Given the importance that Boeing has placed on the launch of the 777X, whose range and fuel economy make it a natural choice for international airlines, the early success of the program is encouraging and is justifiably making shareholders optimistic about the stock's prospects.
JPMorgan Chase rose 1.7% after announcing yet another settlement late Friday in a dispute over mortgage-backed securities. If approved, the $4.5 billion settlement would cover claims from institutional investors over securities that JPMorgan and Bear Stearns sold. But the settlement doesn't cover similar claims against Washington Mutual, which JPMorgan also acquired during the financial crisis. Moreover, given CEO Jamie Dimon's warnings that further legal battles lie ahead, it's getting increasingly difficult to understand why the stock rises with every resolution.
Goldman Sachs also climbed 1.6%, perhaps in sympathy with JPMorgan's favorable resolution. Yet the soaring stock market bodes well for the investment bank, which can already point to a healthy IPO market as having bolstered enthusiasm for some of its core money-making businesses. With the bull market encouraging companies to seek smart strategic moves like going public, raising capital, and making mergers and acquisitions, Goldman stands ready to profit as they move forward.
