Why the stock market could keep rising | Fidelity (2024)

FAQs

Why the stock market could keep rising | Fidelity? ›

Expectations of an earnings rebound in 2024 suggest earnings could continue to drive the market higher. While some valuations are stretched, there is still room for the market to grow if earnings estimates are met.

In general, strong earnings generally result in the stock price moving up (and vice versa). But some companies that are not making that much money still have a rocketing stock price. This rising price reflects investor expectations that the company will be profitable in the future.

The law of supply and demand holds true as in any market. Some factors, such as the rate of inflation, have the power to move the market as a whole higher or lower. Other factors, such as corporate earnings, may move a single company or an industry sector.

High demand is the primary driver of what makes a stock price go up. The higher the demand, the higher the price investors will be willing to pay for each share (and the higher the price owners will be demanding to sell their shares). Similarly, low demand is the primary driver of what makes a stock price go down.

When GDP is growing, individual businesses are producing more and usually expanding. Expanding business activity usually increases valuations and leads to stock market gains.

In general, the stock market rises when interest rates move lower because looser money means more consumer spending and business investment. Indeed, it could be a change in investor attitudes following an election, a new product launch, or geopolitical calming.

During yesterday's trading, NVIDIA's market value jumped by a whopping $277 billion, a record-breaking achievement. So far this year, their total gains have reached an impressive $740 billion, bringing their overall market capitalization close to $2 trillion.

What Determines Share Price. Share price is ultimately determined by supply and demand in the marketplace. The more shares in circulation there are relative to demand for this stock, the lower its price will fall. The more demand there is relative to shares in circulation, the higher its price will climb.

How does stock go up overnight? ›

Because relatively few people actually trade after the market closes, orders tend to build up overnight, and in a rising market, that will produce an upward price surge when the market opens. But during extended declines, overnight sell orders may cause prices to plummet when the market opens.

But the booming markets are likely to benefit White families more than families from other racial and ethnic groups. That's because White families are the most likely to own publicly traded stocks, either directly or indirectly – for example, through a retirement account or mutual fund.

In a bull market—stock prices are rising—consumers and companies have more wealth and confidence—leading to more spending and higher GDP. In a bear market—stock prices are falling—consumers and companies have less wealth and optimism—leading to less spending and lower GDP.

The S&P 500 generated an impressive 26.29% total return in 2023, rebounding from an 18.11% setback in 2022. Heading into 2024, investors are optimistic the same macroeconomic tailwinds that fueled the stock market's 2023 rally will propel the S&P 500 to new all-time highs in 2024.

Higher interest rates tend to negatively affect earnings and stock prices (often with the exception of the financial sector). Changes in the interest rate tend to impact the stock market quickly but often have a lagged effect on other key economic sectors such as mortgages and auto loans.