The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 200 points Friday in the wake of Thursday's stock market sell-off. Meanwhile, SolarEdge Technologies plunged after warning of weak European demand. Finally, Tesla stock continued its slide Friday, testing a key level.
On the earnings front, American Express, Intuitive Surgical and SLB were key earnings movers Friday morning.
AXP stock slipped 3.5% in morning trade, while Intuitive Surgical shares tumbled nearly 4%. And SLB shares declined 1% in morning action.
SolarEdge stock plunged more than 30% Friday morning after the company slashed its third-quarter revenue outlook and warned that demand in Europe was weakening.
"During the second part of the third quarter of 2023, we experienced substantial unexpected cancellations and pushouts of existing backlog from our European distributors," SolarEdge Chief Executive Zvi Lando said in a press release.
Dow Jones Today: Oil Prices, Treasury Yields
After Friday's opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6%, while the S&P 500 lost 0.9%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite dropped 1.2% in morning action. Intuitive Surgical and SolarEdge peer Enphase Energy traded at the bottom of the Nasdaq 100.
Among U.S. exchange traded funds, the Nasdaq 100 tracker Invesco QQQ Trust fell 1.2%, while the SPDR S&P 500 ETF moved down 0.9% early Friday.
The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond pared back to 4.94% Friday morning, after briefly topping the 5% mark. The benchmark set a fresh long-term high on Thursday, settling at 4.98%.
Oil prices were up more than 1% Friday morning, set to finish at the week's highs. West Texas Intermediate futures traded around $90 a barrel, up more than 2% for the week.
Struggling Stock Market Rally
On Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped nearly 0.8%, while the S&P 500 lost close to 0.9%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite declined 1%. The small-cap Russell 2000 fell 1.5%, making its lowest close in more than a year.
Thursday's Big Picture column commented, "Amid the recent weakness, IBD investors should remain very cautious about taking on new positions, with a recommended stock market exposure at a 0%-20% level."
Now is an important time to read IBD's The Big Picture column, with the stock market outlook showing signs of a pressured uptrend. Be sure to read how to handle the changing stock market outlook.
Learn How To Time The Market With IBD's ETF Market Strategy
Stock Market Today
Electric-vehicle giant Tesla declined 2.5% early Friday, while Nvidia inched lower. Meanwhile, Dow Jones tech icons Apple and Microsoft traded lower after today's stock market open.
IBD Leaderboard member Arista Networks, Lululemon Athletica, Meta Platforms and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals — as well as Dow Jones stocks JPMorgan Chase and Salesforce — are among the best stocks to buy and watch in the still-struggling stock market uptrend.
JPMorgan is featured in this Stocks Near A Buy Zone column. Regeneron was IBD's Stock Of The Day on Friday.
Dow Jones Stocks: JPMorgan, Salesforce
Dow Jones banking giant JPMorgan moved down another 0.4% Thursday, taking the losing streak to four sessions. Shares are struggling to regain their 50-day line, as they build a flat base with a 159.38 buy point, according to IBD MarketSmith chart analysis. An early entry looms at 153.11, using Friday's high as the buy trigger. JPM stock dropped 0.7% Friday.
Software leader Salesforce is battling resistance around its key 50-day line. If the stock retakes that key level, then it would move closer to a 228.79 buy point in a double-bottom base. CRM stock fell modestly Friday morning.
4 Top Growth Stocks To Buy And Watch In The Stock Market Rally
Stocks To Buy And Watch: ANET Eyes Buy Point
Arista dropped 1.4% Thursday, just shy of a 198.70 buy point in a flat base. A recent bullish rebound from the 50-day line in recent sessions placed the stock in a new buy area. The company reports third-quarter results Oct. 30. ANET stock inched higher early Friday.
Lululemon surged past a flat base's 406.94 buy point Monday, with a 10.3% advance. But shares fell further below that entry during Thursday's 2.3% drop. Look for another sustained move past that entry as a buy signal. LULU stock was up 0.2% Friday morning.
Facebook-parent Meta Platforms is trying to find support around a 312.87 buy point following Thursday's 1.3% decline. Meanwhile, Meta stock is still below a cup base's official buy point at 326.20. The social media giant reports third-quarter results Oct. 25. Meta shares inched higher Friday.
Biotech leader Regeneron slid below its 50-day line Thursday, with a 2.1% drop. Shares continue to build a flat base that has a 847.50 buy point, according to IBD MarketSmith pattern recognition. Earnings are due out Nov. 2. REGN stock was down another 0.3% Friday.
Best Stocks In Today's Stock Market Action
These are four best stocks to buy and watch in today's stock market, including a Dow Jones leader.
| Company Name | Symbol | Correct Buy Point | Type Of Buy Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms | 312.87 | Handle entry | |
| Salesforce | 228.79 | Double bottom | |
| Lululemon | 406.94 | Flat base | |
| Arista Networks | 198.70 | Flat base |
Source: IBD Data As Of Oct. 18, 2023
Join IBD experts as they analyze leading stocks in the current stock market rally on IBD Live
Tesla Stock
Tesla stock plunged more than 9% Thursday after the company's earnings results. Shares are trying to find support around their 200-day line, and are more than 25% off their 52-week high.
Shares moved down 2.5% early Friday, threatening to add to Thursday's losses.
Dow Jones Leaders: Apple, Microsoft
Among Dow Jones stocks, Apple extended a losing streak to five sessions Thursday, declining 0.2%. Shares are trying to bounce back from their recent lows. If AAPL stock can continue its rebound, then it's likely to form a double-bottom base with a 189.98 buy point. Apple delivers its fiscal fourth-quarter report on Nov. 2. Shares lost 0.4% early Friday.
Microsoft shares rose 0.4% Thursday, as shares continue to hold above their 50-day line. A new base is forming ahead of the company's first-quarter earnings report on Tuesday. The base shows an early entry at 340.86. Another early entry, at Monday's high of 336.14, is also in play. And on Friday morning, MSFT stock was down 0.5%.
Be sure to follow Scott Lehtonen on X/Twitter at @IBD_SLehtonen for more on growth stocks and the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
