[Jefferies Optimistic About Year-End U.S. Stock Market Performance: Current Pullback May Be a Rare Buying Opportunity] BlockBeats News, October 17 — Jefferies market intelligence analyst Dan Kirsche stated that despite continued pressure on tech stocks, market gains are spreading to more sectors. Combined with reduced investor positioning pressure and a decline in U.S. Treasury yields, current market volatility may provide investors with a rare window to build positions. He also expects strong performance for U.S. stocks in November and December. Kirsche pointed out that the Nasdaq Index has fallen approximately 5% from its peak, while the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index has rebounded about 7%–8% from its low, indicating that weakness in tech stocks has not prevented other sectors from strengthening. However, he anticipates that the S&P 500 Index may still retest the 100-day moving average near 7600 points. The semiconductor sector's adjustment risks remain unresolved, as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index has fallen for the eighth consecutive day, poised to set the longest losing streak since May 2006. BTIG analyst Jonathan Krinsky believes that after consecutive declines, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index may see a short-term rebound, but it still has further downside potential in the medium term. Kirsche views 11,000 points as the next key support level for the index and predicts that the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury may drop from approximately 5.13% to 5.00%, and then further decline to 4.8%. [Original Link]