Morgans AM: Thursday, 18 July 2024

The Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 closed sharply lower as chipmakers and large-capitalisation technology companies tumbled amid reports the Biden administration is considering tightening restrictions on exports of semiconductor equipment to China - Dow rose +244-points or +0.59% to 41,198.08, logging a second straight record closing high. UnitedHealth Group Inc rallied +4.45% to be the leading performer in the 30-stock index for a second session running and building on the previous day’s +6.5% gain after the insurer reported a better-than-expected second quarter result. “Magnificent Seven” members Apple Inc (down -2.53%), Amazon.com Inc (-2.64%) and Microsoft Corp (-1.33%) all retreated