The S&P 500 and Nasdaq managed to inch higher on Monday, but the trading session was far from smooth. Here's a breakdown of the key factors:

• Market Volatility: Uncertainty prevailed due to:

  • Soft Manufacturing Data: News of slowing U.S. manufacturing activity for the second month in a row raised concerns about weakening economic growth.
  • NYSE Glitch: A technical issue caused wild swings in Berkshire Hathaway and Barrick Gold shares, leading to trading halts for over 60 NYSE-listed stocks.

• Cautious Trading: Investors remained hesitant, waiting for further market direction after recent earnings reports.

• Index Performance:

  • S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended slightly higher after recovering from earlier losses.
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed in the red.

• Sector Performance:

  • Technology stocks led the gains, possibly reflecting some investors seeking value after recent downturns.
  • Energy stocks suffered the most significant losses.

• Analyst Viewpoint: Keith Lerner, co-chief investment officer at Truist Advisory Services, attributed the choppy trading to investor indecisiveness, waiting for the next major market driver to emerge.

Overall, Monday's market action reflected a cautious and volatile environment. While the S&P 500 and Nasdaq managed to edge higher, underlying concerns about economic growth and recent market events created a hesitant trading atmosphere.