MARKET SNAPSHOT: Stocks Retreat From Records As Third-quarter Results Get Under Way

J.P. Morgan posted better-than-expected earnings but trading slumped

U.S. stocks mostly slipped on Thursday, with major indexes retreating from record levels as investors read the first of a batch of third-quarter corporate results from the banking sector, led by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., and Citigroup Inc.

Read:Bank earnings: 'Lower for longer' means buybacks will continue (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bank-earnings-lower-for-longer-means-buybacks-will-continue-2017-10-06)

What are the main benchmarks doing?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 18 points, or 0.1%, to 22,853. The S&P 500 index slid 2 points to 2,553. The Nasdaq Composite traded flat at 6,602 after opening in negative territory.

All three indexes closed at records on Wednesday, extending their strong year-to-date moves. Thus far in 2017, the Dow has gained nearly 16%, the S&P is up 14%, and the Nasdaq has risen 23%.

Read:The Dow's flirtation with 23,000 is a sign of the stock market's velocity (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-stock-markets-velocity-has-the-dow-flirting-with-230000-2017-10-05)

And see:Investors face 'mental exhaustion' in markets where nothing is 'normal' (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/investors-face-extreme-mental-exhaustion-due-to-high-valuations-low-volatility-2017-10-10)

What is driving markets?

Analysts expect banks to kick off what is likely to be strong season of third-quarter corporate results (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/third-quarter-earnings-seen-as-an-easy-beat-could-set-up-more-stock-market-records-2017-10-09) and extend the market's record-setting streak.

On the data front, initial weekly jobless claims fell by 15,000 (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/unemployment-rolls-shrink-to-44-year-low-jobless-claims-show-2017-10-12) to 243,000 in early October to mark the lowest level in six weeks. Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast claims to total 250,000. The producer-price index rose 0.4% (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-wholesale-inflation-zooms-higher-in-september-2017-10-12), matching consensus expectations.

Check out:MarketWatch's Economic Calendar (http://www.marketwatch.com/economy-politics/calendars/economic)

Meanwhile, Fed Gov. Jerome Powell is due to give a speech about emerging-market economies at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time in Washington, D.C.

Fed Gov. Lael Brainard, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi and former Fed chief Ben Bernanke are expected to take part in a panel discussion about monetary policy at 10:30 a.m. Eastern in Washington.

What are strategists saying?

"Basic fundamentals are good, companies are making money, and I think the market will be relatively strong throughout earnings season, but I don't see a huge spike up between now and the end of the year because a lot [of earnings optimism] has been priced in," said Gary Droz, managing director at MainLine Private Wealth.

Equities have gone an unusually long time without a pronounced pullbacks, with dips of even 3% in short supply. Droz said this was something that merited watching.

"We don't want to lull ourselves into a complete coma. Anything could trigger a drawdown; markets need to breathe," he said.

Which stocks look like key movers?

J.P. Morgan(JPM) posted earnings and revenue that beat expectations (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jp-morgans-profit-buoyed-by-lending-2017-10-12), although its trading revenue was weak amid a quiet period for markets. Shares dipped 0.4%.

Citigroup(C)reported a higher-than-expected profit (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/citi-earnings-beat-boosts-stock-2017-10-12), but shares fell 0.6%. The Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF(XLF) lost 0.3%.

Both J.P. Morgan and Citigroup have been strong performers over the past year; J.P. Morgan is up 42% and Citigroup has gained more than 50% over the past 12 months.

Domino's Pizza Inc.(DPZ) reported earnings and sales that beat expectations (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dominos-pizza-beats-profit-and-sales-expectations-but-stock-falls-2017-10-12), but shares fell 4.3%.

And see:Third-quarter earnings seen as 'an easy beat,' may bring more market records (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/third-quarter-earnings-seen-as-an-easy-beat-could-set-up-more-stock-market-records-2017-10-09)

Telecom (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/att-warns-of-lower-q3-revenue-profit-on-hurricanes-mexican-earthquakes-2017-10-11)AT&T Inc.(T), retailer (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jjill-shares-plummet-after-outlook-cut-2017-10-11)J. Jill Inc.(JILL) and networking equipment maker (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/juniper-networks-shares-fall-after-profit-revenue-warning-2017-10-11)Juniper Networks Inc.(JNPR) look on track for down days after each company issued a profit warning late Wednesday.

Shares of AT&T lost 3.5% while J. Jill tumbled 50%. Juniper was down 5%.

CarGurus Inc.(CARG) is slated to have its trading Nasdaq debut on Thursday after pricing shares of its initial public offering above an expected range (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cargurus-prices-ipo-above-expected-range-at-16-a-share-2017-10-11). The company helps buyers find deals on new and used cars.

What are other assets doing?

Bitcoin on Thursday was soaring to new all-time highs above $5,100 (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bitcoin-soars-to-a-new-all-time-high-above-5100-2017-10-12).

European stocks (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/spanish-stocks-pull-back-after-rally-as-other-european-markets-struggle-for-direction-2017-10-12) were little changed, while most Asian markets closed higher, with Japan's Nikkei benchmark finishing at a fresh 21-year high (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nikkei-keeps-rising-as-asian-markets-extend-gains-2017-10-11).

Gold futures gained (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-rises-tries-to-regain-grip-on-1300-level-2017-10-12), while oil futures pulled back as the International Energy Agency said the world's crude supply expanded (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-supply-rises-as-us-production-keeps-up-pace-despite-hurricanes-iea-2017-10-12) in September on the back of steady U.S. production growth. The ICE U.S. Dollar Index was roughly flat after falling Wednesday as minutes from the last Fed meeting showed some policy makers wondered whether an interest rate rise (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/december-rate-hike-not-automatic-minutes-of-last-months-meeting-show-2017-10-11) was needed in December.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 12, 2017 10:31 ET (14:31 GMT)