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US stocks fluctuated Thursday as investors assessed the House's narrow vote to approve President Trump's "big, beautiful" tax bill and what it means for the growing US debt pile.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was roughly flat, coming off an almost 2% drop for the blue-chip index on Wednesday. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose 0.1%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) jumped 0.6%.
The House of Representatives passed Trump's giant tax-and-spending package by a single vote after a last-gasp revision aimed at winning over conservative Republican holdouts. Changes including a more generous deduction for SALT taxes paved the way for the bill moving a step closer to becoming law.
Wall Street is worried that the legislation could add trillions to the existing $36 trillion deficit, especially after Moody's directly cited the proposal in downgrading the US credit rating.
Longer-dated bond yields, in high focus after a Moody's downgrade shined a spotlight on the US debt, continued a steady march higher. The 30-year yield (^TYX) rose above 5.1%, putting it within striking distance of highs seen during the financial crisis.
Meanwhile, bitcoin (BTC-USD) continued to set fresh record highs, topping $111,000 for the first time as the leading cryptocurrency rose over 3% to $111,878. Ether (ETH-USD) also made gains amid growing institutional demand.
US economic output rebounded in May as businesses digested President Trump's tariff rollback. S&P Global's flash US composite PMI, which captures activity in both the services and manufacturing sectors, climbed to 52.1 in May, compared to 50.6 in April.
Meanwhile, in a sign of a softening US labor market, the weekly report on initial jobless claims released on Thursday showed the number of Americans filing for unemployment insurance on a continuing basis totaled 1.9 million, bringing the four-week moving average of continuing claims to its highest level since November 2021.
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Economic output rebounds in May but tariffs push prices higher, disrupt supply chain
US economic output rebounded in May as businesses digested President Trump's tariff rollback.
S&P Global's flash US composite PMI, which captures activity in both the services and manufacturing sectors, came in at 52.1 in May, up from 50.6 in April.
Increased activity in both the services and manufacturing sectors helped drive the gains. S&P's services PMI increased to 52.3 in May, up from 50.8. Meanwhile, the manufacturing PMI also increased, rising to 52.3, above the 50.2 seen the month prior.
“Business confidence has improved in May from the worrying slump seen in April, with gloom about prospects for the year ahead lifting somewhat thanks largely to the pause on higher rate tariffs," S&P Global Market Intelligence chef business economist said in the release.
Still, there were clear signs within the data that tariffs are beginning to push prices higher and lead to supply chain problems.
“Supply chain delays are now more prevalent than at any time since the pandemic led to widespread shortages in 2022, and prices charged for both goods and services have spiked higher as firms and their suppliers seek to pass on tariff levies to customers," Williamson said. "The overall rise in prices charged for goods and services in May was the steepest since August 2022, which is indicative of consumer price inflation moving sharply higher.”
The penny looks set to be an extinct monetary species
The Wall Street Journal on Thursday reported that the US Treasury will stop minting new pennies next year, bringing an end to the country's smallest monetary denomination.
According to the Journal, the Treasury lost $85 million last year on new pennies, with 3 billion new one-cent pieces minted and then sent into circulation.
The move is expected to save the government $56 million annually.
For businesses, the lack of new pennies in circulation will mean cash transactions need to be rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents, with the nickel now the smallest coin in circulation. Digital transactions can still be rounded to the nearest penny.
With the penny exiting circulation, America's first president, George Washington, will be the lone figure featured on two different denominations — the dollar and the quarter. Abraham Lincoln, whose face is currently the "heads" side of a penny, is also featured on the $5 bill.
Stocks mixed as investors watch climbing Treasury yields
US stocks opened mixed on Thursday as investors watched long-dated bond yields in reaction to the House's approval of President Trump's "big, beautiful" tax bill and the impact on US debt.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) (^DJI) opened down about 0.2%, extending losses from Wednesday. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) hovered near the flat line, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) rose 0.2%.
The House of Representatives passed Trump's tax-and-spending package by a single vote. Investors have been watching bond yields climb in reaction to rising US debt levels.
The benchmark 10-year yield (^TNX) rose above 4.58%, while the 30-year yield (^TYX) rose to 5.1%.
Continuing jobless claims rise to highest level since November 2021
Signs of softening in the US labor market continue.
The weekly report on initial jobless claims released Thursday showed the number of Americans filing for unemployment insurance on a continuing basis totaled 1.9 million, bringing the four-week moving average of continuing claims to 1,887,500, the highest since November 2021.
For the week ended May 17, initial jobless claims totaled 227,000, which continues to suggest there is no nascent surge in new layoffs.
But the steady rise in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits over time shows the labor market remains "low hire, low fire," a fine situation for those with a job but a deteriorating situation for those out of work.
Solar stocks tank as tax bill that guts clean energy provisions advances
Solar stocks tanked after President Trump's tax plan advanced from the House to the Senate.
The bill speeds up the phaseout of clean energy tax credits, which have boosted wind and solar companies and were initially backed by moderates. However, changes made Wednesday night weakened many of those provisions, dealing a blow to the industry.
Sunrun (RUN) stock took the biggest beating, plummeting 43%. Meanwhile, shares of Enphase (ENPH) dropped 18%, SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG) fell 15%, and First Solar (FSLR) dipped 5%.
All four solar stocks were among the top trending tickers on Yahoo Finance in premarket trading.
Coinbase hack reveals crypto vulnerability to old-school crime: Bribery
Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith reports:
Stock futures waver after House passes Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'
The House voted to approve President Trump's "big, beautiful" tax bill on Thursday, sending the 1,000-page package to the Senate next.
US stock futures wobbled following the vote. S&P 500 futures (ES=F) hovered above the flat line, while tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 futures (NQ=F) rose 0.2%. Contracts on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) declined 0.1%
Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul notes that the bill is centered around an extension of the 2017 tax cuts, signed into law during Trump's first term as president. The plan will also raise the nation's debt ceiling by $4 trillion.
Good morning. Here's what's happening today.
Economic data: Chicago Fed nat activity index (April); Initial jobless claims (May 17); Continuing claims, (May 10); S&P Global US manufacturing & services PMI (May preliminary); S&P global US composite PMI; Existing home sales (April); Kansas City Fed manufacturing activity (May)
Earnings: Advance Auto Parts (AAP), Autodesk (ADSK), BJ's (BJ), Decker's (DECK), Intuit (INTU), Ralph Lauren (RL), Ross Stores (ROST), TD Bank (TD), Workday (WDAY)
Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning:
Trump tax bill begins House vote after last-gasp 'SALT' changes
Bitcoin tops $111,000 for first time as demand surges
Google's response to AI search threat: Bring it on
EU offers fresh trade deal to US with lobster on the menu
China's BYD outsells Tesla in Europe for first time: Report
Dimon warns of US stagflation risk, says Fed right to hold
Coinbase hack shows crypto vulnerability to old-school crime
Snowflake jumps on outlook, earnings beat
Snowflake (SNOW) stock rose 9% in premarket trading on Thursday after it raised its fiscal 2026 forecast for product revenue betting on strong demand for its data analytics services as enterprises prioritize artificial intelligence spending.
Reuters reports:
Bitcoin holds above record-breaking $110,000
Bitcoin prices topped $110,000 for the first time in the early hours of Thursday morning. The cryptocurrency has been buoyed by a recent push in positive sentiment from the White House and institutional investors.
Bloomberg reports:
Oil bounces back from fall as market reacts to selloff
Oil prices fell overnight Wednesday before clawing back gains as buyers digest a broad market sell-off as the US builds up oil inventories.
Bloomberg reports:
