"Wall Street Faces Rocky Start to 2024 as Stocks and Bonds Stumble"

U.S. stocks experienced a dip at the start of 2024, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite seeing declines, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average remained relatively flat. The downturn was influenced by a downgrade of Apple's stock by Barclays due to concerns over iPhone demand, which led to a nearly 4% drop in Apple shares. Economic data, including the upcoming December jobs report, is anticipated to test the recent rally's strength. In contrast, oil prices rose amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea, and Bitcoin surged past $45,000 for the first time since early 2022, fueled by optimism over a potential SEC approval of a spot bitcoin ETF.