Wall Street hits new peaks after US jobs report

A board above the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange shows the closing number for the Dow Jones industrial average, Thursday, July 3, 2014. The Dow Jones industrial average topped 17,000 for the first time Thursday, the index’s first big 1,000-point milestone this year, following news that hiring in the US accelerated last month. AP PHOTO/RICHARD DREW

NEW YORK–Wall Street rode improving economic data to fresh records this week, spawning comparisons to July 4th fireworks on the eve of the US Independence Day holiday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 216.42 points for the four-day week (1.28 percent) to 17,068.26, while the S&P 500 increased 24.48 (1.25 percent) to 1,985.44. Both indices notched closing records three days in a row and the Dow closed above 17,000 for the first time.

The gains were also strong on the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index, which tacked on 88.00 (2.00 percent) to 4,485.93.

The highlight of the week was Thursday’s Department of Labor employment report, which showed the US economy added a healthy 288,000 jobs in June, while the unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent from 6.3 percent in May.

Economists characterized the report as the latest indication of pickup in the US economy after activity plummeted in the first quarter mainly due to unusually cold weather.

However, some analysts viewed the market’s buoyant reaction with concern.

“Investors are growing concerned with the increased bullishness in the market and … wondering if the time is growing close to a correction,” said David Levy, portfolio manager at Kenjol Capital Management.

Levy said the market could retreat in the coming weeks if second-quarter earnings disappoint, or if investors conclude the Federal Reserve is likely to move up its timetable for raising interest rates.

But Scott Wren, a senior equity strategist at Wells Fargo Advisors, said the market has plenty of running room.

“Earnings are at a record high, valuations are reasonable, and the global recovery, albeit slow, continues to ramble on,” Wren said in a note.

“The cyclical bull market, at least in our opinion, still looks like it has several more years to run.”

Mixed week for GM

Most of the week’s other economic reports were solid, if unspectacular.

The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) dipped 0.1 point to 55.3 in June, a disappointment next to a forecasted gain of 0.4 point, but well above the 50 reading that separates growth from contraction.

Meanwhile, the ISM’s PMI for services sector activity fell to 56.0 in June from a strong advance to 56.3 in May, below the 56.5 forecast by analysts.

Other data showed a lower US trade deficit in May and a big jump in pending home sales in May.

Automakers reported that June sales that were 1.2 percent above last year’s level.

Alec Gutierrez, a senior analyst at Kelly Blue Book, said the strong auto sales showed consumer confidence was on the rise and likely reflects a decision of some buyers to move up purchases to take advantage of favorable financing conditions before the Federal Reserve raises interest rates.

The strong sales were a bright spot for General Motors, which unveiled its plan for paying potentially hundreds of victims millions of dollars in the ignition-switch recall scandal.

The US auto giant also announced it was recalling 8.4 million more cars in North America, taking the total number of vehicles recalled in 2014 to roughly 30 million.

US banking giant JPMorgan Chase announced that chief executive Jamie Dimon will undergo approximately eight weeks of radiation and chemotherapy treatment for throat cancer.

Dimon said his prognosis was “excellent” and would continue working, but the bank assured that it has a succession plan in place.

In merger-and-acquisition news, PPG, a supplier of paints, coatings and glass, announced a $2.3 billion acquisition of Mexican company Consorcio Comex in a move to build its presence in Mexico and South America.

Devon Energy announced the sale of non-core energy assets in Texas and other sites to Linn Energy for $2.3 billion.

Markets next week will turn their attention to second-quarter earnings with reports from Alcoa and Wells Fargo.

The calendar is fairly quiet as far as economic data, although the Federal Reserve Wednesday will release minutes from its June policy meeting.