Day Traders Diary

12/18/20

The major averages pulled back from record highs in volatile trading on Friday as lawmakers struggled to bridge differences on additional coronavirus stimulus measures. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 124 points, or 0.4%, to 30,179. At its session low, the 30-stock benchmark shed more than 270 points. The S&P 500 dipped 0.4%, or 13 points, to 3,709, snapping a three-day winning streak. The Nasdaq Composite lost 0.1%, or 9 points, to 12,755. All three indexes touched new intraday highs earlier in the day after closing at records in the previous session.

Leaders on Capitol Hill said they are close to an agreement that would provide $900 billion in additional aid. The talks, which have stretched on for months, are up against the wire, with federal funding lapsing at 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said in the afternoon that the chamber would go into a recess until 5 p.m. while congressional leaders try to get a "clearer picture" of how to move forward. He told representatives to keep Friday night, Saturday and Sunday free.

Last-minute disputes preventing Congress from passing a relief deal include direct payments, small business loans and a boost to unemployment insurance.

As the market closed, Congress was trying to approve a measure to keep the government running for two more days, CNBC confirmed.

The stock market experienced massive volume on Friday as Tesla's historic entry into the S&P 500 will be based on prices at the close. There was a rush of activity into the final bell and the S&P 500 will begin trading with Tesla as a member on Monday.

With a market capitalization of more than $600 billion after a 700% rally this year, the electric carmaker will be joining as the seventh-largest company in the index.

Tesla is being added to the benchmark in one fell swoop, marking the largest rebalancing of the S&P 500 in history. It's estimated that passive funds tracking the S&P 500 needed to buy more than $85 billion of Tesla, while selling $85 billion of the rest of the index to make room for it.

Shares of Tesla rose to hit an all-time high on Friday in volatile trading. More than 190 million shares of Tesla changed hands, more than quadrupling the 30-day average volume.

Major averages eked out gains for the week despite Friday's weakness. The Dow gained 0.4% for the week. while the S&P 500 advanced 1.3% for its its fourth positive week in five. The tech-heavy Nasdaq outperformed with a 3.1% gain for the week.

U.S. Treasuries finished the session mixed in a quiet session for bonds. The 2-yr yield decreased two basis points to 0.11%, while the 10-yr yield increased two basis points to 0.95%. The U.S. Dollar Index increased 0.2% to 90.01. WTI crude futures rose 1.5%, or $0.71, to $49.04/bbl.