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Stocks extend winning streak following Fed rate increase

Stocks extend winning streak following Fed rate increase

U.S. stocks rallied for a third consecutive day as investors warmed up to the Federal Reserve’s long-anticipated move to hike short-term interest rates for the first time in three years. Oil prices jumped back up, with investors turning their attention back to the war in Ukraine and its potential impacts on the global economy.

[Click here to read what’s moving markets heading into Friday, March 18]

The S&P 500 climbed 1.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 4,411.65 to log its first three-day winning streak since Feb. 2, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 34,480.30, also notching its first four-day rally in six weeks. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 13,614.78. Meanwhile, WTI Crude Oil futures and Brent Crude Oil each jumped about 9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $103.64 and $106.79 per barrel, respectively.

St. Patrick’s Day historically tends to be one of the “most green” days of the year for stocks, according to data from LPL Financial going back to 1950. The S&P 500 is up 0.37{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} on average, making it one of the best days of the year.

At the end of its two-day policy-setting meeting, the U.S. central bank revealed Wednesday that it will lift its benchmark Federal Funds Rate by 0.25{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, to a target range of 0.25{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 0.50{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. The move was in line with what market participants had anticipated after Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated in Congressional testimony earlier this month a 25 basis-point bump was distinctly possible.

​​“By raising interest rates, the Federal Reserve has begun the process of unwinding their pandemic-era stimulus measures in an effort to tame inflation,” Bankrate chief financial analyst Greg McBride said in a note. “This isn’t a one-and-done but the start of a series of rate hikes for the remainder of this year and well into next.”

The Fed also unveiled in its updated Summary of Economic Projections, or “dot plot,” which reflects the individual economic projections of policymakers on the Federal Open Market Committee, that the median member anticipates up to six more rate hikes in 2022, which would bring rates 1.75{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} higher at the end of this year. Before Wednesday’s decision, the benchmark interest rate was deliberately held near zero since mid-2020 as part of the Fed’s easy-money policies used to keep financial conditions running smoothly during the pandemic.

“The Fed didn’t rock the boat much,” LPL Financial chief market strategist Ryan Detrick said. “Yes, they lowered economic expectations in 2022 while also increasing inflation, but much of that was already priced into things. Overall, they still see strong growth, which helps support the recovery.”

The Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board building is seen in Washington, DC, March 16, 2022. - The Federal Reserve is expected to announce the first interest rate increase since the Covid-19 pandemic began at the conclusion of its policy setting meeting later today. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

The Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board building is seen in Washington, DC, March 16, 2022. – The Federal Reserve is expected to announce the first interest rate increase since the Covid-19 pandemic began at the conclusion of its policy setting meeting later today. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Although the key decision provided some clarity to investors who for months have awaited for the central bank to take steps forward on tightening monetary conditions, the Fed’s path forward remains muddied by geopolitical turmoil in Eastern Europe. War in Ukraine and penalizing sanctions against Russia for its invasion of the country have raised uncertainty in recent weeks over the conflict’s toll on the global economic picture.

The Fed acknowledged in a statement that came out of its meeting that implications for the U.S. economy are “highly uncertain” but likely to worsen already decades-high inflationary pressures.

“Playing catch up is the theme that Fed officials signaled to markets today as the narrative has shifted from normalizing monetary policy to laying the groundwork for a more restrictive policy and moving beyond neutral,” Allianz Investment Management senior market strategist Charlie Ripley said in commentary.

Elsewhere in markets, shares of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway closed at $500,000 for the first time on Wednesday. The price underscored Berkshire’s status as a defensive stock at a time markets have been roiled by economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The company also purchased 18.1 million additional shares of Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY) this week, bringing the company’s stake in the oil giant to 14.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. The move comes as soaring oil prices amid the war in Ukraine buoy the U.S. oil conglomerate.

Berkshire’s Class A shares have advanced 10{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in 2022, even as the S&P 500 is down about 12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} year-to-date. Prior to a relief rally that extended into Thursday, the benchmark index on Tuesday (the 50th trading day of the year) locked in its 6th worst start to a year ever, data from LPL financial reflected. The silver lining? The previous five worst starts were followed by notable gains, with an average gain for the rest of the year of 36{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, with the exception of only 2001.

“Although we aren’t expecting 36{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} gains the rest of this year, it does suggest that things might be quite bad now, but we’ve been here before and we’ve seen stocks come back way more than expected,” LPL’s Detrick said.

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4:28 p.m. ET: FedEx reveals profit boost from boom in online shopping

FedEx Corp. (FDX) reported a stronger quarterly profit for its fiscal third quarter, attributing gains to a surge in online shopping.

The U.S. package delivery company said adjusted net income for the period increased to $1.22 billion, or $4.59 per share, from $939 million, or $3.47 per share, a year earlier.

Revenue for the quarter ended Feb. 28 rose 9.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $23.6 billion.

Shares of FedEx closed 0.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} higher Thursday at $227.98 a piece and ticked up in post-market trading to $228.85 per share as of 4:25 p.m. ET after the company unveiled results after the bell.

A Federal Express truck on delivery is pictured in downtown Los Angeles, California October 29, 2014. Determined not to repeat a holiday season that left millions of packages delivered too late and customers seething, United Parcel Service Inc and FedEx Corp are investing heavily in new infrastructure - but the continued dynamic growth of e-commerce will test those efforts. The world's two largest shipping companies are building new facilities, adding more temporary holiday workers and pushing retailers to help them avoid a recurrence of a pre-Christmas shipping logjam. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS)

A Federal Express truck on delivery is pictured in downtown Los Angeles, California October 29, 2014. Determined not to repeat a holiday season that left millions of packages delivered too late and customers seething, United Parcel Service Inc and FedEx Corp are investing heavily in new infrastructure – but the continued dynamic growth of e-commerce will test those efforts. The world’s two largest shipping companies are building new facilities, adding more temporary holiday workers and pushing retailers to help them avoid a recurrence of a pre-Christmas shipping logjam. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES – Tags: BUSINESS)

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4:14 p.m. ET: U.S. House seeks to strip Russia, Belarus ‘most-favored’ trade status

The U.S. House of Representatives supported legislation that would rid Russia and Belarus of their “most favored nation” trade status over the invasion of Ukraine. The move would allow higher tariffs on imports from the two countries.

With voting still underway, the Democratic-controlled House tallied 320 to five in favor of removing Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status in the latest Congressional effort to place further economic pressure on Moscow and close ally Belarus.

A two-thirds majority is needed for the legislation to pass in the 435-member House.

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4:00 p.m. ET: S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq build on gains as investors adjust to rate hike

Here’s how markets closed at the end of Thursday’s session:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +53.50 (+1.23{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,411.36

  • Dow (^DJI): +416.87 (+1.22{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,479.97

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +178.23 (+1.33{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,614.78

  • Crude (CL=F): +$8.53 (+8.98{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $103.57 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$27.60 (+1.45{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,936.80 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +0.4 bps to yield 2.1920{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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12:40 a.m. ET: All main indexes firmly in the green after rebound from session lows

Here were the main moves in markets as of 12:40 p.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +20.26 (+0.46{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,378.12

  • Dow (^DJI): +158.20 (+0.46{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,221.30

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +39.97 (+0.30{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,476.52

  • Crude (CL=F): +$7.51 (+7.90{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $102.55 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$34.50 (+1.81{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,943.70 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -3 bps to yield 2.1580{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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11:59 a.m. ET: Stocks waver to turn mixed as investors re-focus on rising energy prices

Here were the main moves in markets during intraday trading:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +6.54 (+0.15{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,364.40

  • Dow (^DJI): +30.12 (+0.09{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,093.22

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -4.90 (-0.04{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,431.65

  • Crude (CL=F): +$7.69 (+8.09{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $102.73 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$40.10 (+2.10{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,949.30 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -3 bps to yield 2.1580{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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11:13 a.m. ET: Mortgage rates top 4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

Mortgage rates soared to their highest level since May 2019 this week, following a sharp increase in 10-year Treasury yield.

The rate on the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage jumped to 4.16 {1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, up from 3.85{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} a week ago, according to Freddie Mac. The 15-year fixed rate — a common refinance option — also surged, averaging 3.39{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from 3.09{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} last week.

The more than quarter-point hike in rates dealt s a blow to homeowners who may have waited too long to refinance their loan and presents an additional setback for buyers who are facing some of the worst affordability conditions as prices grow higher amid low inventory on homes for sale.

“The potent fuel that propelled real estate markets to new highs over the past couple of years is evaporating,” George Ratiu, Realtor.com manager of economic research, said.

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10:49 a.m. ET: Amazon closes purchase of MGM movie studio

Amazon (AMZN) announced Thursday that the online retail giant has closed a $8.5 billion deal to buy MGM as the company works to draw in consumers through more video streaming.

“We welcome MGM employees, creators, and talent to Prime Video and Amazon Studios, and we look forward to working together to create even more opportunities to deliver quality storytelling to our customers,” the company said in a statement, signaling there would be no layoffs following the transaction.

The decision to close comes after a deadline passed for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to challenge the deal. Amazon first announced plans to buy the company in May 2021, indicating MGM offered a trove of content to draw consumers to its fast-shipping and streaming club Prime.

Amazon was up 0.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $3,082.58 per share as of 10:45 a.m. ET.

Niagara Falls, Canada - April 18, 2014: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Plaza in Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls city is a Canadian city on the western bank of the Niagara River. The city has many business and entertaiment options design for tourism.

Niagara Falls, Canada – April 18, 2014: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Plaza in Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls city is a Canadian city on the western bank of the Niagara River. The city has many business and entertaiment options design for tourism.

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10:37 a.m. ET: Buffett snaps up more shares of Occidental Petroleum

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. purchased 18.1 million additional shares of Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY), bringing the company’s stake in the oil giant to 14.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}.

Berkshire bought shares between Monday and Wednesday at prices ranging from $52.99 to $55.38, according to a company filing.

The move comes as soaring oil prices amid the war in Ukraine buoy the U.S. oil conglomerate.

OXY shares were up more than 7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to trade at $56.73 a piece as of 10:34 a.m. ET. Meanwhile, Berkshire Hathaway’s Class A shares were priced at about $508,135.34 after closing at $500,000 for the first time on Wednesday.

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett walks through the exhibit hall as shareholders gather to hear from the billionaire investor at Berkshire Hathaway Inc's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., May 4, 2019. REUTERS/Scott Morgan

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett walks through the exhibit hall as shareholders gather to hear from the billionaire investor at Berkshire Hathaway Inc’s annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., May 4, 2019. REUTERS/Scott Morgan

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9:30 a.m. ET: Stocks open lower following first interest rate increase since 2018

Here were the main moves in markets as of 9:30 a.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -13.81 (-0.32{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,344.05

  • Dow (^DJI): -126.25 (-0.37{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 33,936.85

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -79.61 (-0.59{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,356.94

  • Crude (CL=F): +$6.42 (+6.76{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $101.46 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$33.80 (+1.77{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,943.00 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -3.2 bps to yield 2.1560{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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9:03 a.m. ET: New U.S. home construction rebounds to strongest pace since 2006

U.S. housing starts in February rose to the strongest pace since 2006, pointing to better success by homebuilders navigating material and labor snafus during the month.

Residential starts jumped 6.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} last month to a 1.77 million annualized rate, according to data out of Washington out Thursday. Applications to build, a measure of future construction, abated to an annualized 1.86 million units but remained elevated overall.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg estimated a pace of 1.7 million for housing starts in February.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 16: Construction workers build a home on April 16, 2021 in Miami, Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced that housing starts surged 19.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in March to their highest level since 2006. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 16: Construction workers build a home on April 16, 2021 in Miami, Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced that housing starts surged 19.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in March to their highest level since 2006. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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8:30 a.m. ET: Jobless claims fall to 214,000 in latest weekly data

Applications for unemployment insurance fell in the latest weekly data to extend a broader trend downward after surging COVID-19 infections earlier this winter briefly disrupted the labor market’s recovery to start the year.

The Labor Department latest weekly jobless claims report showed 214,000 claims were filed in the week ended March 12, coming in better than the 220,000 economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected.

Jobless claims came in below 250,000 for a seventh consecutive week and hovered around pre-pandemic levels. Continuing claims, which track the total number of individuals claiming benefits across regular state programs, have held well below levels from even before the pandemic, coming in under 1.5 million for four straight weeks now compared to an average of around 1.7 million per week in 2019.

Although COVID’s impact on the labor market has appeared to ease, the economic toll the war in Eastern Europe may have remains unclear.

“Staggeringly high inflation is set to go higher in forthcoming reports because of impacts from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and continuing supply chain disruptions including in China,” Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate, wrote in an email. “These higher costs crimping household budgets risk dampening consumer discretionary purchases. It remains to be seen how much this could negatively affect the job market in the months to come.”

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7:03 a.m. ET: Futures slip, oil rises as investors continue to weigh rate hike

Here’s how markets fared ahead of the open Thursday

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): -9.00 points (-0.21{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,349.00

  • Dow futures (YM=F): -67.00 points (-0.20{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 33,992.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): -32.00 points (-0.23{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,921.00

  • Crude (CL=F): +$4.20 (+4.42{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $99.24 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$35.20 (+1.84{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,944.40 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +2.8 bps to yield 2.1880{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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6:02 p.m. ET Wednesday: Futures tick up after stocks close higher following Fed decision

Here’s where stock futures were ahead of the overnight session Wednesday:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +8.25 points (+0.19{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,366.25

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +51.00 points (+0.15{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,110.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +29.25 points (+0.21{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,982.25

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.30 (+0.32{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $95.34 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$17.00 (+0.89{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,926.20 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +2.8 bps to yield 2.1880{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 16: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 16, 2022 in New York City. The Dow started off the day in positive territory, extending yesterday's rally. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 16: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 16, 2022 in New York City. The Dow started off the day in positive territory, extending yesterday’s rally. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Alexandra Semenova is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alexandraandnyc

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Stocks whipsaw to extend streak of volatility amid Fed update

Stocks whipsaw to extend streak of volatility amid Fed update

Wall Street’s major indexes closed in negative territory on Thursday after a sharp U-turn earlier in the session erased morning gains, continuing a streak of recent volatility as investors weighed upbeat economic data out of Washington alongside Wednesday’s Federal Reserve update.

[Click here to read what’s moving markets heading into Friday, Jan. 28]

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended just below its flatline, losing steam from earlier gains, while the S&P 500 closed down 0.54{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, also retreating from earlier in the session. Declines in heavily-weighted Tesla (TSLA) dragged down the Nasdaq to close 1.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} lower.

Despite notching a quarterly profit and sales well above analyst estimates for the fourth quarter, shares of Tesla closed down 12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to the lowest level since Oct. 14 after the electric vehicle maker admitted supply chain woes were likely to strain operations and halt new vehicle launches this year.

U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) ramped up in the final months of 2021 at a better-than-expected 6.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} annualized rate in Q4, up from Bloomberg economists’ consensus estimate of 5.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. Meanwhile, first-time unemployment filings ticked lower for the first time in four weeks after notching a three-month high in the previous reading, suggesting some of the Omicron-related disruptions that have recently weighed on the labor market’s recovery may be easing.

Fed Chair Powell “has to walk a very thin line, a very thin tightrope between not choking off the economic recovery, which does appear as though it’s happening pretty well, but at the same time fighting off inflation,” F.L. Putnam portfolio manager Ellen Hazen told Yahoo Finance Live.

The Federal Reserve held rates at near zero following a two-day policy meeting that concluded on Wednesday, citing plans to halt pandemic-era policy of asset purchases first. The Federal Open Market Committee, however, reaffirmed it will wrap up the process in early March, suggesting the first rate hike could come in six weeks.

Investors had been anticipating clarity from the Fed on measures it would take to mitigate inflation leading up to Wednesday’s statement, with uncertainty around the pace and extent of policy change weighing on markets since the start of the new year.

“While offering some clarity on how the Fed would begin the process of removing policy accommodation, the outcome of the meeting fell short in providing the needed guidance on the timing and magnitude of the shift in policy,” Charlie Ripley, senior investment strategist for Allianz Investment Management said in a note. “Today’s meeting has market participants fully convinced that a March hike is certain, but with Chairman Powell not making any timing commitments, the door is slightly open for a slower moving Fed.”

While questions around when — and how profoundly — short-term borrowing costs will be increased, the Federal Open Market Committee unanimously agreed that “it will soon be appropriate to raise the target range for the federal funds rate,” with remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaling the first increase will happen on March 16, after the central bank’s next scheduled meeting.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell addresses an online only news conference in a frame grab from U.S. Federal Reserve video broadcast from the Federal Reserve building in Washington, U.S., January 26, 2022. U.S. Federal Reserve Board/Handout via REUTERS

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell addresses an online only news conference in a frame grab from U.S. Federal Reserve video broadcast from the Federal Reserve building in Washington, U.S., January 26, 2022. U.S. Federal Reserve Board/Handout via REUTERS

“I would say that the committee is of a mind to raise the federal funds rate at the March meeting, assuming conditions are appropriate for doing so,” Powell said in a press conference.“I don’t think it’s possible to say exactly how this is going to go, and we’re going to need to be, as I’ve mentioned, nimble about this.”

JPMorgan Chief U.S. Economist Michael Feroli said Powell’s comments were “arguably the most hawkish he’s made as Fed Chair.”

Powell deflected questions about whether a 50 basis point hike was on the table, including one posed by Yahoo Finance’s Brian Cheung about whether hikes would be gradual, but Powell indicated that the central bank’s moves could differ in tempo from when it began raising rates in 2015 due to the notably stronger economy and labor market and inflation running hot.

“While remaining noncommittal, Powell clearly wanted to indicate that hiking at consecutive meetings was a possibility, a risk we’ve also been flagging,” Feroli said.

4:02 p.m. ET: Stocks close in negative territory after another choppy session

Here were the main moves in markets as at the end of the session:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -23.43 (-0.54{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,326.50

  • Dow (^DJI): -7.31 (-0.02{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,160.78

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -189.34 (-1.40{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,352.78

  • Crude (CL=F): -$0.33 (-0.38{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $87.02 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$36.10 (-1.97{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,793.60 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -4.1 bps to yield 1.8070{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

—

3:05 p.m. ET: Natural gas for February sees record-setting spike

Gas for February delivery spiked 72{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} suddenly in afternoon trading, reflecting the biggest jump on record, according to Bloomberg.

The move could be a sign of bearish wagers being squeezed out of the market ahead of cold weekend weather, Bloomberg indicated. Today is the last day this particular contract trades before expiring.

A CME Group spokesperson confirmed the price jump to Bloomberg. The increase represented the biggest surge since the contract launched in 1990.

—

1:16 p.m. ET: Tesla’s supply chain woes, new vehicle delays weigh on shares

Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) reported blowout fourth quarter results after market close on Wednesday, but Wall Street wasn’t sold on the company’s earnings beat.

Despite notching a quarterly profit and sales well above analyst estimates, shares of Tesla were down 8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in intraday trading Thursday after the electric vehicle maker admitted supply chain woes were likely to strain operations and halt new vehicle launches this year.

“Our own factories have been running below capacity for several quarters as supply chain became the main limiting factor, which is likely to continue through 2022,” Tesla said in a shareholder deck.

The stock was down -8.49{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to trade at $857.81 per share in the afternoon session as of 1:16 p.m. ET.

—

12:54 p.m. ET: Stocks lose steam after strong morning gains

Here were the main moves in markets in midday trading:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -0.90 (-0.02{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,349.03

  • Dow (^DJI): +93.72 (+0.27{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,261.81

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -61.26 (-0.45{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,480.86

  • Crude (CL=F): -$0.59 (-0.68{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $86.76 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$36.60 (-2.00{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,793.10 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -6.5 bps to yield 1.7830{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

—

11:32 a.m. ET: McDonalds shares fall after inflation takes toll on profit

Shares of McDonald’s (MCD) fell 1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} after the fast-food restaurant operator reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share that fell short of estimates. Positive sales performance was offset by rising operating costs that dampened on the fast food chain’s profitability.

“Top line was generally strong for MCD in the 4Q, but perhaps not surprisingly, elevated operating costs weighed on company-operated restaurant margins,” RBC analyst Christopher Carril wrote in a note.

McDonald’s stock was mostly flat in morning trading, up slightly by 0.25{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $250.49 per share as of 11:32 a.m. E.T.

—

10:00 a.m. ET: US homebuying slows in the final month of 2021

Pending U.S. home sales, which serve as a a leading indicator of the health of the housing market, fell for the second straight month in December.

The National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Pending Home Sales Index, which tracks the number of homes that are under contract to be sold, dropped 3.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in the last month of 2021 from November and declined 6.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from the same month a year.

Activity was down across all regions in the U.S. Bloomberg consensus estimates reflected an expected 0.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} decrease in sales from a month earlier and a 4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} drop from the same month a year ago.

“Pending home sales faded toward the end of 2021, as a diminished housing supply offered consumers very few options,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, in a press statement. “Mortgage rates have climbed steadily the last several weeks, which unfortunately will ultimately push aside marginal buyers.”

—

9:30 a.m. ET: Stocks advance on back of strong economic data

Here were the main moves in markets at the start if Thursday’s trading session:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +43.42 (+1.00{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,393.35

  • Dow (^DJI): +285.29 (+0.83{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,453.38

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +151.11 (+1.12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,693.23

  • Crude (CL=F): +$1.03 (+1.18{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $88.38 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$31.60 (-1.73{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,798.10 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -1.1 bps to yield 1.8370{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

—

9:12 a.m. ET: New orders for US-made capital goods remain stagnant

U.S. capital goods were unexpectedly unchanged in the month of December, signaling a slowdown in business spending on equipment amid shortages.

The Commerce Department said on Thursday that the unchanged reading last month in orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft followed a 0.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} gain in November. The print serves as a closely-watched proxy for business spending plans.

Economists had anticipated orders to tick up 0.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates.

—

8:30 a.m. ET: US economy expands at 6.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} annualized rate, topping forecasts

U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) ramped up in the final months of 2021, with still-solid consumer spending helping stoke growth and offset early negative impacts from the Omicron variant’s spread.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on Thursday that the U.S. economy expanded at a better-than-expected 6.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} annualized rate in Q4, up from Bloomberg economists’ consensus estimate of 5.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. 

Growth in the fourth quarter rebounded more than expected from the third quarter’s disappointing rate of expansion, when GDP rose at a 2.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} annualized rate — its slowest since mid-2020.

—

8:30 a.m. ET: US jobless claims trend down as Omicron disruptions begin to ease

First-time unemployment filings ticked lower for the first time in four weeks after notching a three-month high in the previous reading, suggesting some of the Omicron-related disruptions that have recently weighed on the labor market’s recovery may be easing.

The Labor Department reported that another 260,000 individuals filed new claims for the week ending Jan. 22, slightly lower than the expected 265,000 reflected in Bloomberg consensus estimates. Last week, first-time unemployment filings notched a three-month high amid renewed virus-related disruptions.

Even as Omicron’s spread may be slowing, payrolls will be a bit slower to respond to falling COVID cases than the real-time activity data, according to Pantheon Macroeconomics Chief Economist Ian Shepherdson.

—

7:00 a.m. ET: Southwest Airlines takes flight with first quarterly profit in two years

Fourth quarter results from Southwest Airlines Co (LUV) reflected the Texas-based carrier notched its first quarterly profit in two years in the last three months of 2021, buoyed by holiday travel before the Omicron outbreak. The company also said it expects to be profitable in 2022.

Southwest, however, anticipates a loss in the current quarter through March due to repressed revenue gains and increased costs related to disruptions from Omicron. The airline expects to be profitable in the remaining three quarters of the year.

“With COVID-19 cases trending downward, the worst appears to be behind us,” incoming CEO Bob Jordan said. Jordan is expected to assume his post as the company’s sixth chief executive next month.

Shares of Southwest were mostly flat in pre-market trading at $43.77 a piece.

A Southwest Airlines commercial aircraft approaches to land at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California U.S. January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake

A Southwest Airlines commercial aircraft approaches to land at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California U.S. January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake

—

7:00 a.m.: Futures on all three major indexes seesaw ahead of open

Here’s how stock futures fared in pre-market trading Thursday morning:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +9.75 points (+0.22{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,351.25

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +39.00 points (+0.11{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 34,094.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +61.00 points (+0.43{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,219.50

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.89 (+1.02{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $88.24 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$18.90 (-1.03{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,810.80 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +0.00 bps to yield 1.8480{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

—

6:00 p.m. ET Wednesday: Stock futures crawl forward as investors mull Fed comments

Here were the main moves in post-market trading ahead of the overnight session:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +8.25 points (+0.19{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,349.75

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +31.00 points (+0.09{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 34,086.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +44.00 points (+0.31{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,202.50

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.23 (+0.26{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $87.12 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$10.80 (-0.59{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,818.90 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +6.5 bps to yield 1.8480{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

—

Alexandra Semenova is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alexandraandnyc

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Stocks extend losses amid mixed bank earnings, retail sales miss

Stocks extend losses amid mixed bank earnings, retail sales miss

Stocks ended mixed on Friday at the end of a volatile week, with investors monitoring a mixed set of bank earnings and a bigger-than-expected drop in U.S. retail sales. 

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at the highs of the trading day. The Nasdaq fluctuated between gains and losses after a 2.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} drop on Thursday, but closed up 0.59{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} at 14,893.75. 

The Dow underperformed, dropping more than 1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} at session lows as the index’s bank stock components declined after delivering earnings. The index closed down 0.56{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} at 35,911.81. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) shares fell 6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} after the company posted lower-than-expected fourth-quarter trading revenues and rising costs as compensation expenses increased. Citigroup (C) shares also fell after posting a similar miss on fixed-income and equities trading revenues for the quarter.

Peer bank Wells Fargo (WFC) shares rose, on the other hand, after posting quarterly revenue that topped estimates as both commercial and consumer loans picked up at the end of last year. 

New economic data came in weaker-than-expected on Friday, adding to the risk-off tone in markets. U.S. retail sales fell 1.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in December month-on-month, missing estimates for an only 0.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} dip and marking the biggest drop since February 2021. November’s sales were also downwardly revised to show 0.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} monthly increase, compared to the 0.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} rise previously reported. 

Investors this week have been weighing concerning signs of lingering price pressures across the U.S. economy against assertions from key central bank officials that the Federal Reserve is ready to take action to bring down inflation. 

In Fed Governor Lael Brainard’s hearing before the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday, she suggested the central bank could begin raising interest rates — a move that would tighten financial conditions and help bring down inflation — “as soon as asset purchases are terminated.” The Federal Reserve is currently set to end its asset-purchase tapering process in March. 

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said during this morning’s earnings call that he expected that on interest rate hikes this year, “there’s a pretty good chance there will be more than four — there could be six or seven.”

“What we’re seeing right now is a repricing of the markets, given anticipated rate hikes… That’s going to be the catalyst driving down the market,” WealthWise Financial CEO Loreen Gilbert told Yahoo Finance Live on Thursday. “It’s going to be a wild ride.”

And the bevy of recent inflation data has so far helped strengthen the case for a near-term move on monetary policy, many economists suggested. Thursday’s Producer Price Index (PPI) showed the biggest annual rise in wholesale prices on record, in data going back to 2010, even as monthly price gains moderated slightly. And this report came just a day following the December Consumer Price Index (CPI) showing the biggest surge in inflation since 1982. Many economists suggested inflationary pressures would continue at least through the first months of this year before gradually easing.

“Two of the biggest things have been the supply chain disruptions and the fiscal stimulus,” Matthew Miskin, John Hancock Investment Management co-chief investment strategist, told Yahoo Finance Live. “As the pandemic comes more under control this year, as the Omicron wave hopefully dissipates, we likely see the supply chain disruptions come off, and then we’re not going to get more fiscal stimulus … That in our view does cause inflation to come down over the course of the year.” 

Rising prices have also been hitting companies’ profits as labor costs jump. Of the nearly two dozen S&P 500 companies that had reported fourth-quarter earnings results as of mid-week, 60{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of these cited a negative impact from higher labor costs or shortages to sales or profits, according to FactSet.

—

4:02 p.m. ET: S&P 500 and Nasdaq close at highs of day

Here were the main moves in markets as of 4:02 p.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): 3.79 (0.08{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4662.82

  • Dow (^DJI): -202.34 (-0.56{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 35,911.28

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): 86.94 (0.59{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,893.75

  • Crude (CL=F): -$2.16 (2.63{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $84.28 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$4.90 (-0.27{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,816.50 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +8 bps to yield 1.789{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

—

11:35 a.m. ET: Biden administration names three nominees to fill spots on Fed Board of Governors

The Biden administration announced its nominees to fill out the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, tapping Sarah Bloom Raskin, Lisa Cook, and Philip Jefferson for the roles. Each nominee must still go before the Senate Banking Committee for confirmation.

Earlier this week, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell appeared before the Senate Banking Committee in his renomination hearing to remain as Fed Chair for second term. Current Fed Governor Lael Brainard also had her nomination hearing to become Fed Vice Chair.  

—

10:15 a.m. ET: Manufacturing production unexpectedly falls in December

The U.S. manufacturing sector showed more signs of slipping amid the latest surge in COVID-19 cases and materials shortages. 

According to new Federal Reserve data Friday, manufacturing output declined by 0.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in December to reverse course after a 0.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} rise in November. Consensus economists were looking for a 0.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} monthly rise in production in December, based on Bloomberg data. Manufacturing accounts for about 12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of overall economic activity in the U.S. 

A drop in auto production contributed heavily to the headline decline, with ongoing chip shortages impacting the industry. Vehicle production was down 1.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in December following a rise of 1.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in November.  

—

10:11 a.m. ET: University of Michigan sentiment index drops to 68.8 in January, in second-lowest reading in a decade

Consumer sentiment fell more than expected in early January to reach one of its lowest readings in 10 years, as concerns over the inflation outlook and COVID-19 weighed on optimism.

The University of Michigan’s preliminary January Surveys of Consumers index came in at 68.8, falling from December’s 70.6. This was below consensus estimates for a reading of 70.0, according to Bloomberg data. 

“While the Delta and Omicron variants certainly contributed to this downward shift, the decline was also due to an escalating inflation rate,” Richard Curtin, chief economist for the Surveys of Consumers, wrote in a statement. “Three-quarters of consumers in early January ranked inflation, compared with unemployment, as the more serious problem facing the nation.”

“Given that inflation’s impact is regressive, the Sentiment Index fell by 9.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} among households with total incomes below $100,000 in early January, but rose by 5.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} among households with incomes over that amount,” he added. 

Overall, consumers’ one-year inflation expectations edged back up to 4.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, or the highest level since 2008, from December’s 4.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. 

—

9:30 a.m. ET: Stocks open lower after disappointing economic data, mixed bank earnings

Here’s where markets were trading just after the opening bell Friday morning: 

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -28.25 (-0.61{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,630.78

  • Dow (^DJI): -337.64 (-0.76{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 35,775.98

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -51.93 (-0.34{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,756.56

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.56 (+0.68{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $82.68 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$3.90 (+0.21{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,825.30 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +2.5 bps to yield 1.734{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

—

8:32 a.m. ET: Retail sales drop 1.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in December, missing estimates

Retail sales posted a large-than-expected drop in December, as consumer spending pulled back from earlier in 2021. 

The total value of U.S. retail sales was down 1.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in December compared to November, the Commerce Department said Friday. This was the first monthly drop since July, and the biggest decline since February 2021. Consensus economists had looked for a dip of just 0.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, according to Bloomberg data. In November, retail sales rose 0.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, with this figure also downwardly revised. from the 0.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} rise previously. reported. 

By category, non-store retailers, or e-commerce stores, saw by far the biggest drop in monthly retail sales, with these falling 8.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in December. Department stores also posted a 7.0{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} drop in sales, and furniture and home furnishing sales declined by 5.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. Still, the weakness was broad-based in December, and nearly every category of retailer saw a monthly drop in sales. Notably, building material stores saw a nearly 1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} sales rise during the month, and miscellaneous store retailers’ sales rose by 1.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. 

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7:43 a.m. ET: ‘The economy continues to do quite well despite headwinds related to the Omicron variant’: Dimon 

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon struck an upbeat tone about the trajectory of the economic recovery even given the latest disruptions caused by the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. 

“The economy continues to do quite well despite headwinds related to the Omicron variant, inflation and supply chain bottlenecks,” Dimon said in the bank’s fourth-quarter earnings report on Friday. “Credit continues to be healthy with exceptionally low net charge-offs, and we remain optimistic on U.S. economic growth as business sentiment is upbeat and consumers are benefiting from job and wage growth.”

Both JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo cited an increase in loans as contributing to results at the end of last year, suggesting consumers and businesses were remaining confident in borrowing and spending. 

However, JPMorgan’s fixed-income and stock-trading businesses saw sales fall over last year. Fixed income sales and trading revenue declined 16{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} over last year to $3.33 billion, which the bank attributed to “a challenging trading environment in rates, as well as lower revenues in credit and currencies & emerging markets compared to a strong prior year.” Equities sales and trading revenue dipped 1.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $1.95 billion.  

Overall, adjusted revenue grew 0.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} over last year to reach $30.35 billion, topping estimates for $30.01 billion, according to Bloomberg data. Earnings per share were $3.33, exceeding expectations for $2.99. 

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7:32 a.m. ET Friday: Stock futures give up earlier gains, point to a lower open 

Here’s where markets were trading before the opening bell:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): -5 points (-0.11{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,647.00

  • Dow futures (YM=F): -37 points (-0.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 35,952.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): -30.75 points (-0.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,459.50

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.58 (+0.71{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $82.70 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$0.90 (+0.05{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,822.30 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +3.3 bps to yield 1.742{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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6:01 p.m. ET Thursday: Stock futures open slightly higher

Here’s where markets were trading Thursday evening: 

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +4.25 points (+0.09{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,656.25

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +37 points (+0.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 36,026.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +18.75 points (+0.12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,509.00

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 11: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on January 11, 2022 in New York City. After yesterdays sell off, the Dow was down only slightly in morning trading. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 11: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on January 11, 2022 in New York City. After yesterdays sell off, the Dow was down only slightly in morning trading. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Emily McCormick is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter

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Stocks hover near records as traders look to extend gains into November

Stocks hover near records as traders look to extend gains into November

Stocks touched records on Monday, with equities looking to build on gains after the S&P 500’s best month since November 2020.

The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq each set record intraday and closing levels. Investors headed into November trading with momentum from a record-setting October, when the S&P 500 logged its best monthly gain in nearly a year, powered higher by a combination of estimates-topping corporate profit results. And according to data from LPL Financial, November has marked the best month of the year for stocks over the past 10 years and since 1950. 

Fresh catalysts for the markets are due out later this week. Investors in the coming days will be eyeing a slew of new quarterly earnings results for companies from Clorox (CLX) to CVS Health Corp. (CVS), Lyft (LYFT) and Square (SQ), on the back of what has been an already historically strong earnings season. 

As of Friday, just over half of all S&P 500 companies had reported actual third-quarter earnings results, and 82{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of these topped consensus estimates on profit results, according to data from FactSet. The expected earnings growth rate for the index is more than 36{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, which, if maintained, would mark the third-highest profit growth rate for the index since 2010. 

Though some of the heavily weighted index components from last week had disappointed against consensus estimates — with both Amazon and Apple shares dropping after posting weaker-than-expected results and guidance — other stronger results helped offset these misses, with names including Alphabet and Microsoft rallying to record levels on the heels of their respective reports. 

This week will also include key economic data reports including the October jobs report on Friday, which is expected to show a pick-up in job creation compared to the disappointing pace of hiring shown in each of August and September. 

Meanwhile, the Federal Open Market Committee will convene for its next monetary policy-setting meeting. on Tuesday and Wednesday, then release its policy statement and hold a press conference with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. This meeting is expected to set the stage for an announcement of tapering of the Fed’s crisis-era asset purchase program, which is currently taking place at rate of $120 billion per month in purchases of agency mortgage-backed securities and Treasuries. Amid the improving data tracking the economic recovery, the Fed previously signaled that a tapering announcement would come before year-end, and that the tapering process would continue until the middle of next year. 

Given the market has been anticipating the start to tapering for months now, speculation around when the Fed will make a move on interest rates has become a point of particular interest to investors. This week’s FOMC statement and press conference are likely to provide some more color to market participants around how committee members are thinking about the timing for interest-rate hikes, especially given the persistent jump in inflation seen in data including last week’s core personal consumptions expenditures report. That print showed a fourth straight month with core PCE jumping at 3.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} year-over-year rate, or its fastest since 1991. 

These still-heightened inflation data, combined with companies’ earnings call anecdotes of higher input prices and labor costs, have led some investors to speculate the Fed might need to move to raise rates more quickly than previously telegraphed to stave off an unchecked and lasting surge in inflation. 

Others, however, suggested the Fed might hold off on a move on interest rates until labor market conditions have come closer to pre-pandemic levels. 

“Fed funds futures currently price in the first rate hike by September 2022. If realized, that would be much faster than the one-year gap that occurred between the end of the Fed’s asset purchases in December 2014 and its first rate hike in December 2015,” Sam Bullard, Wells Fargo senior economist, wrote in a note. “We think the Fed is unlikely to hike rates by September 2022, given that numerous FOMC policymakers have made clear that the bar for a rate hike is much higher than the bar for tapering asset purchases.”

“At August’s rate of job growth, it would take a little more than two years to recoup 100{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of the jobs lost during the pandemic, and even then, the economy would be still several million jobs short of its pre-pandemic trend,” he added. “We still expect the labor market to face a meaningful employment gap for the entirety of 2022. As such, we currently have the first rate hike not occurring until 2023. Obviously the economic situation is fluid and risks to the outlook suggest the rate hike could come sooner than we expect. A very close eye needs to be kept on all incoming data.”

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4:04 p.m. ET: Stocks kick off Nov. trading at records: S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq set all-time closing highs

Here were the main moves in markets as of 4:04 p.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +8.29 (+0.18{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,613.67

  • Dow (^DJI): +94.28 (+0.26{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 35,913.84

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +97.53 (+0.63{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,595.92

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.37 (+0.44{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $83.94 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$9.60 (+0.54{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,793.50 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +1.8 bps to yield 1.5750{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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12:26 p.m. ET: Tesla shares jump to fresh record high in fourth straight session of gains

Shares of Tesla (TSLA) surged anew to set a fresh intraday high on Monday, with the stock advancing for a fourth straight session amid a slew of upbeat news for the electric-vehicle maker. Shares rose nearly 5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to top $1,160 as of afternoon trading. 

Tesla’s stock built on gains from October, when shares gained 44{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in a fifth consecutive monthly advance. On Monday, Chinese company Ganfeng Lithium said in won a deal to provide Tesla lithium products for three years, helping lock in an agreement to provide components for the automaker amid a global jump in input prices. 

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11:18 a.m. ET: ‘We do still see opportunities within equities for investors’: BofA

With the S&P 500 setting yet another record intraday high, some strategists are striking a more cautious tone on the blue-chip index. 

“We’re a bit more cautious on the S&P 500 at these levels, we expect more downside than upside through year-end, and we’re looking for sort of a flattish market between now and 2022, just given some of the risks that we’re seeing right now,” Jill Carey Hall, Bank of America U.S. equity strategist and head of U.S. small and mid-cap strategy, told Yahoo Finance Live on Monday.

“We do still see opportunities within equities for investors,” she added. “One of those areas is small caps…we’re projecting based on where valuations are today small caps could actually see mid-to-high single-digit annualized returns over the next decade.”

“The pick-up in capex [capital expenditures] spending by corporations that we’re seeing evidence of this earnings season, that’s typically bullish for smaller, more domestic companies,” she added. “And small caps aren’t as stretched on valuations.” 

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10:25 a.m. ET: Construction spending slips

U.S. construction spending fell 0.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in September, reversing an increase of 0.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in August. The results missed expectations of an increase of 0.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, compiled by Bloomberg analysts consensus. The drop is activity was attributed to supply shortages and soaring building material prices. Private construction spending fell 0.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, while single-family spending fell 0.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}.

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10:00 a.m. ET: Manufacturing expansion slows

The institute for Supply Management (ISM) said its index of factory activity in the U.S. slipped to a reading of 60.8 in October from 61.1 a month earlier — a 16-month low. The slowdown came amid ongoing supply chain issues across the globe. 

“Production was little changed, and the other headline components – supplier delivery times, employment, and inventories – rose modestly. But orders tend to lead, so the headline index likely will dip next month,” Ian Shepherdson, chief economist for Pantheon Macroeconomics, said in an email following the results. “That said, the downturn in China’s PMIs points to downside risk for the ISM over the next few months, though U.S. manufacturing will not slow as much as China’s, which is being hurt by the authorities’ pursuit of zero COVID. At the same time, U.S. manufacturers have seen a bigger demand boost as a result of the outsized fiscal stimulus.”

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9:38 a.m. ET: Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq rise

Here were the main moves in markets as of 9:38 a.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +7.15 (+0.16{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,612.53

  • Dow (^DJI): +160.83 (+0.45{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 35,980.39

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +6.27 (+0.04{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,504.66

  • Crude (CL=F): +$1.05 (+1.26{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $84.62 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$8.40 (+0.47{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,792.30 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +4.3 bps to yield 1.6000{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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7:22 a.m. ET Monday: Stock futures point to a higher open

Here’s where markets were trading ahead of the opening bell:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +21 points (+0.46{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,618.00

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +176.00 points (+0.49{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 35,880.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +63.5 points (+0.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,902.00

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.46 (+0.55{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $84.03 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$0.80 (+0.04{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,784.70 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +2.6 bps to yield 1.582{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., October 27, 2021. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., October 27, 2021. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

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Emily McCormick is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter