Morgans AM: Monday, 4 July 2022 by Morgans Financial Limited published on 2022-07-03T23:53:18Z US equity markets advanced on the first day of the third quarter ahead of the 4 July holiday long weekend, with both the S&P500 and Nasdaq snapping a four-session losing streak - Dow rose +322-points or +1.05%. The broader S&P500 gained +1.06%, with Utilities (up +2.48%) leading all eleven primary sectors higher. General Motors Co rose +1.35% despite the automaker warning of a second-quarter earnings shortfall, as vehicle wholesale volumes were hurt by the timing of semiconductor shipments and other supply chain disruptions. GM expects net income for the quarter to 30 June to be between US$1.6B and US$1.9B, well below current consensus analyst forecasts of US$2.46B. However, the company affirmed its full-year outlook (for net income of US$9.6B to US$11.2B) as the supply disruptions are expected to be temporary. The Nasdaq +0.9%. Meta Platforms Inc closed down -0.76% following news that it’s cutting its hiring plans for engineers as it prepares for a potential downturn. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg said “one of the worst downturns we’ve seen in recent history” is ahead, according to a recording heard by Reuters. Tesla Inc (up +1.24%) disclosed on Saturday (2 July) that sales of cars and SUVs fell -18% in the second quarter to 254,695 (versus consensus expectations for 256,250), snapping a two year streak of gains and marking their lowest quarterly level since last the third quarter of 2021 as supply-chain issues and pandemic restrictions in China hobbled production of its electric vehicles. Tesla delivered 310,048 vehicles in the first quarter of 2022 and 201,250 vehicles in the second quarter of 2021. Tesla is slated to release its second quarter result on 20 July. Micron Technology Inc fell -2.95% after the chipmaker provided a weak fourth quarter outlook after the closing bell of last Thursday’s (30 June) session. The small capitalisation Russell 2000 lost -0.49%. Retailer Kohl’s Corp slumped -19.63% after confirming a CNBC report that it had ceased talks with Franchise Group, saying that the retail environment has worsened since bidding began. Kohl’s also cut its outlook for the current quarter. US equity and bond markets are CLOSED tonight AEST for the Independence Day holiday. Genre Business