Tag: inflation

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Stocks close at a record as investors look beyond hot inflation

Stocks close at a record as investors look beyond hot inflation

Stocks ended Friday at a record level as investors shrugged off a key inflation report ahead of the Federal Reserve’s final policy-setting meeting of the year next week. 

The S&P 500 jumped nearly 1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to log a record closing high. The Dow gained more than 200 points, or 0.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, while the Nasdaq added 0.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. 

The Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed yet another multi-decade high rate of inflation for November. The CPI climbed by 6.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in November compared to last year, marking the fastest annual increase since June 1982. This rate matched consensus economists’ estimates, according to Bloomberg data, but accelerated compared to the 6.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} year-over-year rate from the prior month. And even excluding more volatile food and energy prices, the so-called core CPI rose by 4.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} over last year for the fastest increase in about three decades. 

“What we’re looking for is a deceleration as we go forward over the course of 2022,” Luke Tilley, Wilmington Trust chief economist, told Yahoo Finance Live on Thursday, ahead of the CPI print.

“That doesn’t mean prices are going to go down, it’s just a question of, are they going to go up as much in 2022 as in 2021 without the kind of fiscal stimulus we’ve had this year? And we don’t think that that’s going to happen, because it won’t be as much of a push on the demand side,” he added. “And then on the supply side, we’re looking for the labor market to improve, more people returning to work, and of course the delivery and the ports to improve.”  

Other recent data have further underscored the present tightness on the supply side of the economy. Weekly U.S. jobless claims plunged more than expected to reach the lowest level since 1969 last week, coming in even below pre-pandemic levels. And U.S. job openings came in at more than 11 million for only the second time on record in October.  

“Wage increases are probably on the agenda for next year. That’s part of the broadening of inflationary pressures that we’ve already started to see come through in some of that CPI data,” Seema Shah, Principal Global Investors chief strategist, told Yahoo Finance Live on Thursday. “But I have to say that we’re not so worried because we’re starting to see other parts of the inflation picture actually starting to fade. So at the end of next year, 12 months from now, we’re not expecting the kind of 6-7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} CPI numbers … We’re thinking more the 3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} level for 12 months time.” 

Given the backdrop of elevated inflation, Federal Reserve officials have adopted more hawkish rhetoric about the monetary policy path forward. Some pundits suggested more rotation could occur in U.S. equity markets beneath the surface as investors price in expectations for tighter Fed policy to rein in inflation. The Federal Open Market Committee is slated to hold its final two-day monetary policy-setting meeting of the year next week. 

“The inflation print from this morning will reinforce the Fed’s resolve to accelerate tapering. With the strength in the economic recovery, it is time to take the crutches away,” Anu Gaggar, global investment strategist for Commonwealth Financial Network, wrote in an email on Friday. “Supply and labor shortages will keep aggregate prices elevated for longer, keeping inflation higher than the Fed target for a while. Omicron might dent the nascent recovery in demand for services such as leisure and hospitality while widening the demand-supply imbalance for goods.”

4:00 p.m. ET: S&P 500 surges 3.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in week

Here were the main moves in markets as of 4:00 p.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +44.60 (+0.96{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,712.05

  • Dow (^DJI): +217.29 (+0.61{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 35,971.98

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +113.23 (+0.73{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,630.60

  • Crude (CL=F): +$1.04 (+1.47{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $71.98 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$6.30 (+0.35{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,783.00 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +0.2 bps to yield 1.4890{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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2:42 p.m. ET: Ford shares jump to the highest in two decades after founder’s grandson spends $20 million in share purchases

Shares of automaker Ford (F) jumped Friday afternoon to reach their highest level since 2001. 

The move came amid news that Ford’s executive chairman Bill Ford, great-grandson of Ford founder Henry Ford, chose to exercise nearly 2 million of stock options at a total cost of $20.5 million as part of his executive compensation. 

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10:12 a.m. ET: Consumer sentiment improved more than expected in early December: University of Michigan

The University of Michigan’s December Surveys of Consumers saw a bigger-than-expected recovery after reaching a decade-low in November, even as respondents called out rising inflation.

The institution’s headline sentiment index rose to 70.4 in its preliminary December survey compared to the 68.0 consensus economists were expecting, according to Bloomberg consensus data. This came following November’s print of 67.4 — the lowest in about 10 years.

Consumers’ one-year inflation expectations steadied at 4.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, matching November’s rate. For the next five to 10 years, consumers expected inflation to rise at a 3.0{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} clip, with this also matching November’s reading.

“Sentiment posted a small overall gain in early December (+4.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), although it was still nearly identical to the average reading in the prior four months (70.6),” Richard Curtin, chief economist for the Surveys of Consumers, wrote in a press statement. “The more interesting result was the large disparity between monthly gain among households with incomes in the lowest third (+23.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) of the income distribution compared with the modest losses among households in the middle (-3.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) and top third (-4.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}).”

“The core of the renewed optimism among the bottom third was the expectation of income increases of 2.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} during the year ahead; the last time a higher gain for this group was expected was in 1981,” he added. “This suggests an emerging wage-price spiral that could propel inflation higher in the years ahead.”

He also noted that 76{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of consumers selected “inflation” as “the most serious problem facing the nation,” when asked directly to select between inflation and unemployment. Just 21{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} selected unemployment, Curtin added. 

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9:30 a.m. ET: Stocks open higher after hot inflation print

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

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +30.78 (+0.66{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,698.23

  • Dow (^DJI): +171.58 (+0.48{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 35,886.82

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +113.45 (+0.73{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,631.82

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.85 (+1.20{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $71.79 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$6.40 (+0.36{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,783.10 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -1.7 bps to yield 1.47{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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8:36 a.m. ET: CPI inflation posts biggest year-over-year increase since 1982

The Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index showed the largest annual increase in inflation since 1982, signaling persistently elevated price pressures in the U.S. economy. 

The broadest measure of CPI grew at a 6.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} year-over-year rate in November, or the fastest rise in nearly four decades. This accelerated from the prior month’s 6.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} annual rise. On a month-over-month basis, the CPI rose 0.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, coming in hotter than the 0.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} monthly rate consensus economists were expecting.

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7:20 a.m. ET Friday: Stock futures extend gains ahead of CPI report

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

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +16.75 points (+0.36{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,683.75

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +93 points (+0.26{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 35,846.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +57.25 points (+0.35{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 16,206.00

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.66 (+0.93{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $71.60 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$3.50 (-0.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,773.20 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +2.9 bps to yield 1.516{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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6:25 p.m. ET Thursday: Stock futures open higher 

Here were the main moves in markets in late trading on Thursday:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +6.5 points (+0.14{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,673.50

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +34 points (+0.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 35,787.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +25.25 points (+0.16{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 16,174.00

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 08: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on December 08, 2021 in New York City. Following news from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer on the effectiveness of its vaccine against the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied nearly 100 points in morning trading on Wednesday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 08: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on December 08, 2021 in New York City. Following news from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer on the effectiveness of its vaccine against the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied nearly 100 points in morning trading on Wednesday. (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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Fed Survey Finds Supply-Chain Shortages Boosting Inflation | Business News

Fed Survey Finds Supply-Chain Shortages Boosting Inflation | Business News

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Many parts of the country were hit by supply chain disruptions and labor shortages in November, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday.

In a survey of business conditions around the country, the Fed’s 12 regional banks found that the economy continued to grow at a modest-to-moderate pace, and the outlook for future growth remains positive.

But some of the Fed’s some business contacts expressed uncertainty about when the problems presented by supply chain bottlenecks and labor shortages might begin to ease.

In part because of the supply chain problems, price increases were reported to be widespread across the economy.

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“There were wide-ranging input cost increases stemming from strong demand for raw materials, logistical challenges and labor market tightness,” the Fed’s report, known as the beige book, said.

The Fed survey, which is based on interviews with business contacts last month in all 12 of the Fed’s regional bank districts, will form the basis for discussions when central bank officials hold their final meeting of the year on Dec. 14-15.

In congressional testimony this week, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank is prepared to speed up the pace of the pullback of the easy-money policies it has been using to support the economy for the past 20 months.

The Fed had been buying $120 billion in Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities since the spring of 2020. At its meeting last month, the central bank announced that it would start to trim those purchases, which serve to keep long-term interest rates low, by $15 billion in November and another $15 billion in December.

Powell’s comments this week indicated the Fed may announce at its December meeting that it will make larger monthly reductions in the future so that the bond purchases can be totally ended earlier than the June end-date which had been expected.

That would clear the way for the Fed to begin raising its benchmark interest rate, which was reduced to a record low of 0{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 0.25{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in early 2020.

Both the ending of the bond purchases and the start of interest rate hikes would be expected to raise borrowing costs for consumers and businesses as a way to slow the economy and fight inflationary pressures.

Powell made his comments as inflation has surged to a three-decade high, largely because the pandemic has limited supplies at a time when the re-opening of the economy has led to high demand.

The Fed report said that companies were complaining about “persistent difficulty in hiring and retaining employees” with many leisure and hospitality firms still limiting operating hours due to a lack of workers.

The report said businesses had heard a variety of reasons for the labor shortages. Those included the lack of childcare, retirements, and continued safety concerns revolving around the persistence of COVID cases. The survey was conducted before the emergence of the new omicron variant.

“Nearly all districts reported robust wage growth,” the Fed said. “Hiring struggles and elevated turnover rates led businesses to raise wages and offer other incentives, such as bonuses and more flexible working arrangements.”

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Stocks pare earlier gains with Omicron, inflation in focus

Stocks pare earlier gains with Omicron, inflation in focus

Stocks turned lower Wednesday afternoon as more hawkish remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell compounded with concerns around the Omicron variant and its impacts on the economy. The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq each erased earlier gains to dip into the red.

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control said Wednesday it identified the first confirmed case of the Omicron variant in the U.S.

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control said Wednesday it identified the first confirmed case of the Omicron variant in the U.S. 

Stocks cut gains after CNN first reported the news around 1:45 p.m. ET, citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter. The U.S. joined more than two dozen other countries in reporting at least one case of the Omicron variant, which was first identified last week by scientists in South Africa. 

The latest development renewed concerns about the potential impact of the new variant for the domestic economy. A day earlier Moderna (MRNA) CEO Stephane Bancel told the Financial Times that the company’s current COVID-19 vaccine would likely see a “material drop” in effectiveness against Omicron, but that more data was still needed on the variant.

This commentary, as well as ongoing uncertainty over the transmissibility and severity of disease caused by the new variant, also contributed to the broader market slide seen on Tuesday. 

“The market doesn’t like an information vacuum, and now we have two,” Thomas Hayes, Great Hill Capital Chairman, told Yahoo Finance Live. “Not only did we have the CEO of Moderna expressing concern that his vaccines may not have full coverage for Omicron, but then you had Powell throw this … wrench into the mix at the hearing saying that maybe we’ll speed up taper by a few months. That’s no small potatoes for sure, because the market had anticipated over six or seven months that we would get another $660 billion of liquidity.”

Namely, Powell told the Senate Banking Committee that it would be appropriate for the central bank to consider completing its asset-purchase tapering process “a few months sooner” than previously telegraphed. Market participants had been anticipating that the Fed might strike a more supportive stance for longer especially given concerns over the latest coronavirus variant. But instead, Powell suggested his priority was on curbing persistently elevated levels of inflation, and the Fed chair added it was “probably a good time to retire” his description of inflation as “transitory.”

“Chairman Powell’s commentary course-corrected the view on inflation and the potential need for quicker policy adjustment,” Charlie Ripley, senior investment strategist for Allianz Investment Management, wrote in an email. “The reality is hotter inflation coupled with a strong economic backdrop could end the Fed’s bond buying program as early as the first quarter of next year.”

“Ultimately, the transitory view on inflation has officially come to an end as Powell’s comments reinforced the notion that elevated prices are likely to persist well into next year,” he added. “With potential changes in policy on the horizon, market participants should expect additional market volatility in this uncharted territory.” 

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4:04 p.m. ET: Stocks end whipsaw session lower after first U.S. Omicron case confirmed: Nasdaq drops 1.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -53.98 (-1.18{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,513.02

  • Dow (^DJI): -461.65 (-1.34{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,022.07

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -283.64 (-1.83{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,254.05

  • Crude (CL=F): -$0.79 (-1.19{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $65.39 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$3.30 (+0.19{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,779.80 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -0.9 bps to yield 1.4340{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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2:50 p.m. ET: ‘The market lacks conviction on the upside’: Strategist

Investors are in for more whipsaw stock market action in the very near-term as more information emerges on the new Omicron variant, according to at least one strategist. 

“The price action you’re seeing now really shows the market lacks conviction on the upside,” Niladri Mukherjee, Bank of America head of portfolio strategy, told Yahoo Finance Live on Wednesday.

“In the last couple of weeks, we’ve had two major uncertainties being injected into the market place. One obviously was the news of the new variant, which we know very little about right now. And the second is the possibility of a more hawkish Fed,” he added. “And you’ve seen on different days, on some positive days, you’ve seen a recovery in some of the value and cyclicals which do well when the economy does well. And other days, you’ve seen the secular growth-oriented sectors, like technology doing better than the S&P 500.”

“We think uncertainty will be with us at least in the near-term until we learn more about the virus — its severity, its transmissibility, how much it is evading the vaccines, etc.,” Mukherjee said. “But as we go into 2022, the bigger environment will be that which is really dictated by the Fed’s path to monetary policy normalization.”

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12:55 p.m. ET: Bank stocks jump amid rise in Treasury yields

Bank stocks jumped Wednesday afternoon as Treasury yields climbed, with traders pricing in expectations for an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve next year after its asset-purchase tapering process ends.

The two-year yield, which is sensitive to expectations for monetary policy changes, jumped by about 5.5 basis points Wednesday afternoon to hover around 0.58{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose by 1 basis point to 1.45{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. 

The jump in Treasury yields helped lift shares of major banks including JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, both of which are also Dow components. The KBW Regional Banking Index, an exchange-traded funding tracking bank stocks, rose by more than 3.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} for its best climb in a month. 

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10:05 a.m. ET: ISM Manufacturing index ticks up to 61.1 in November, coming in-line with estimates

Manufacturing sector activity picked up in November compared to October, though inflationary concerns and other price pressures continued to weigh on goods-producing industries.

The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) November manufacturing index came in at 61.1 for the month, up from 60.8 in October. Readings above the neutral level of 50.0 indicate expansion in a sector. 

Beneath the headline index, a subindex tracking prices paid eased to 82.4 from 85.7 in October, but still came in elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels amid lingering inflation. A subindex tracking employment improved to 53.3, rising from October’s 52.0. 

“The U.S. manufacturing sector remains in a demand-driven, supply chain-constrained environment, with some indications of slight labor and supplier delivery improvement,” Timothy Fiore, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing survey, said in a press statement. “All segments of the manufacturing economy are impacted by record-long raw materials and capital equipment lead times, continued shortages of critical lowest-tier materials, high commodity prices and difficulties in transporting products.”

“Pandemic-related global issues — worker absenteeism, short-term shutdowns due to parts shortages, difficulties in filling open positions and overseas supply chain problems — continue to limit manufacturing growth potential,” Fiore added. 

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9:32 a.m. ET: Stocks rise, S&P 500 and Nasdaq gain more than 1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +48.17 (+1.05{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,615.17

  • Dow (^DJI): +254.43 (+0.74{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,738.15

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +177.88 (+1.13{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,712.72

  • Crude (CL=F): +$2.30 (+3.48{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $68.48 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$13.00 (+0.73{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,789.50 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +3.7 bps to yield 1.478{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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8:22 a.m. ET: Private payrolls rose more than expected last month: ADP

Private sector employment expanded more than anticipated in November, suggesting further improvement in the labor market’s recovery.

U.S. private payrolls grew by 534,000 in November compared to October, ADP said in its closely watched monthly report. Consensus economists were looking for private payrolls to rise by 525,000, according to Bloomberg data. Private payrolls had grown by 570,000 in October, according to ADP’s revised monthly figure.

More data on the state of the labor market will be due on Friday, when the Labor Department releases its “official” government jobs report. Consensus economists are looking to see non-farm payrolls rose by 548,000 in November, accelerating modestly from October’s better-than-expected 531,000 rise. ADP’s report has not typically served as a perfect indicator of what to expect from the government job report due to differences in survey methodology. 

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7:24 a.m. ET Wednesday: Stock futures hold onto gains, Dow futures gain nearly 300 points

Here’s where markets were trading as of 7:24 a.m. ET: 

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +55.75 points (+1.22{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,622.00

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +293.00 points (+0.85{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 34,750.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +236.00 points (+1.46{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 16,386.50

  • Crude (CL=F): +$2.96 (+4.47{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $69.14 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$11.50 (+0.65{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,788.00 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +4.4 bps to yield 1.485{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

—

6:15 p.m. ET Tuesday: Stock futures rebound 

Here were the main moves in markets as the overnight session kicked off: 

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +22.25 points (+0.49{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,588.5

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +92 points (+0.27{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 34,549.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +93 points (+0.58{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 16,243.5

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 29: A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the start of trading on Monday following Friday’s steep decline in global stocks over fears of the new omicron Covid variant discovered in South Africa on November 29, 2021 in New York City. Stocks surged in morning trading as investors get more data on the new variant and reports that symptoms have so far been mild for those who have contracted it. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 29: A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the start of trading on Monday following Friday’s steep decline in global stocks over fears of the new omicron Covid variant discovered in South Africa on November 29, 2021 in New York City. Stocks surged in morning trading as investors get more data on the new variant and reports that symptoms have so far been mild for those who have contracted it. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

—

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

Posted on

S&P 500, Nasdaq rise after weekly jobless claims reach 52-year low, PCE inflation jumps

S&P 500, Nasdaq rise after weekly jobless claims reach 52-year low, PCE inflation jumps

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq gained on Wednesday as technology stocks recovered some recent losses, with investors digesting a deluge of economic data before a holiday market closure. 

Investors considered new Labor Department data showing weekly initial jobless claims fell far more than expected to their lowest level since November 1969, underscoring current tight labor market conditions. However, a separate print showed personal consumption expenditures (PCE) accelerated to rise by 5.0{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in October, or the fastest rate since 1990, to add to recent signs of elevated price pressures. 

The 10-year Treasury yield rose to near 1.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} amid these further signs of a firming economic recovery and persistently hot inflation data. 

Rising interest rates have coincided with a selloff in tech and growth stocks this week, with the Nasdaq dropping 0.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} on Tuesday after Monday’s more than 1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} decline. 

“Initially, the markets were happy with the FOMC decision [for Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s renomination] in the sense that it was sort of a continuity play to some degree. But then rates started to rise, and a lot of folks read rising rates as negative for big-cap tech,” Stuart Kaiser, UBS head of equity derivatives research, told Yahoo Finance Live. “So I think the tradeoff we’re going to have here is that, tech has been market leadership — it’s obviously a strong earnings growth and free cash flow engine for U.S. equities — but if you believe it’s going to come under pressure from higher yields, then you end up with kind of a difficult Catch-22.”

According to other analysts, the market action this week — with a renewed rotation away from technology and growth stocks in the face of rising rates — could presage the investing environment for next year. 

“[Tuesday] might be an example of what we see more of next year as the Fed moves into a mode of withdrawing liquidity from the markets and ending these pandemic-era policies, perhaps with rate hikes at the end of the year,” Jeffrey Kleintop, Charles Schwab chief global investment strategist, told Yahoo Finance Live. “And that means higher-valuation stocks, well, they tend to not do as well in environments of rising interest rates and tighter financial conditions.” 

“So you may want to look to be in those sectors that are maybe trading closer to their average valuations, looking to leadership like financials, energy,” he added. “The only caveat to that is when we see these upticks in COVID cases globally, it tends to favor those lockdown defensives like technology.” 

—

4:09 p.m. ET: Tech stocks recover, S&P 500 and Nasdaq end higher after jobless claims reach 52-year low, PCE inflation jumps

Here were the main moves in markets as of 4:09 p.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +10.76 (+0.23{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,701.46

  • Dow (^DJI): -9.42 (-0.03{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 35,804.38

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +70.09 (+0.44{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,845.23

  • Crude (CL=F): -$0.25 (-0.32{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $78.25 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$4.20 (+0.24{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,788.00 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -2.2 bps to yield 1.6450{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

—

3:50 p.m. ET: FOMC minutes suggest central bank focused on ‘flexibility’ for policy path forward

The Federal Open Market Committee’s November meeting minutes released Wednesday afternoon suggested monetary policymakers were committed to remaining flexible in their policy path forward and would adjust their asset-purchase tapering as needed as new economic data rolled in. The central bank had announced in early November that it was going to begin reducing its asset purchases at a rate of $15 billion per month in each of November and December, and then reassess the size of the reductions going forward. 

“The Committee was prepared to adjust the pace of purchases if warranted by changes in the economic outlook and agreed that the post-meeting statement should say so,” the minutes said. “Members agreed that the addition of this language would acknowledge the importance of maintaining flexibility to adjust the stance of policy as appropriate in response to changes in the Committee’s outlook for the labor market and inflation.”

The November FOMC meeting did not come with an updated “dot plot” of individual members’ projections on interest rates and other economic data. However, the minutes Wednesday noted that the members’ “near-term outlook for inflation was revised up, as consumer food and energy prices had risen faster than expected and production bottlenecks and recent wage gains were seen as putting somewhat greater upward pressure on prices than had been anticipated.” 

—

12:02 p.m. ET: New home sales unexpectedly rose for a back-to-back month in October 

New home sales rose by 0.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in October to extend gain after a 7.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} increase in September, Commerce Department data showed on Wednesday. Consensus economists were looking for an unchanged reading last month, according to Bloomberg consensus data. 

“The trend is picking up after a steep drop in the first half of the year, and the recent rising trend in mortgage applications points to clear increases over the next few months, with sales hitting 850K or so by January,” Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, wrote in a note Wednesday. “At the same time, inventory continues to rise rapidly, in contrast to the existing homes market. Supply in the three months October stood at 6.3 months, a bit higher than before COVID. As a result the surge in prices now looks very overcooked, and we expect a clear slowing in the first half of next year.”

—

10:15 a.m. ET: Personal spending and income each top estimates in October despite 

Personal spending increased in October even amid elevated prices, pointing to continued strength in the consumer despite lingering inflation. 

Personal spending, which comprises about two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, rose by 1.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in October compared to September, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said Wednesday. This was faster than the 0.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} rate posted for September and the 1.0{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} monthly increase expected, according to Bloomberg data. Real personal spending also accelerated during the month and topped estimates, rising by 0.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from September’s 0.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} increase. 

Personal income, meanwhile, rebounded after dropping last month, rising by 0.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} versus the 0.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} increase anticipated. Income had fallen by 1.0{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} month-on-month in September, in part coming after federal enhanced unemployment benefits were phased out at the national level after Labor Day. 

—

10:10 a.m. ET: Personal consumption expenditures rose at fastest pace since 1990 

A new print on inflation rose at its fastest rate in more than three decades in October, adding to a bevy of data pointing to persistent inflationary pressures. 

Personal consumption expenditures rose by 5.0{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in October over last year, accelerating from September’s 4.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} rise. The latest monthly print marked the fastest annual growth rate since 1990. 

Excluding volatile food and energy prices, the core PCE deflator was up 4.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in October, also accelerating from September’s revised 3.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} increase. This was the fastest annual rise in the core PCE — the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge — since 1991. 

—

9:30 a.m. ET: Stocks open lower 

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

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -21.59 (-0.46{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,669.11

  • Dow (^DJI): -209.61 (-0.59{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 35,604.19

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -114.56 (-0.73{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,658.21

  • Crude (CL=F): -$0.23 (-0.29{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $78.27 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$1.40 (-0.08{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,782.40 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +1.6 bps to yield 1.681{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

—

8:45 a.m. ET: New jobless claims reach lowest in 52 years, Q3 GDP revised up

Economic data Wednesday morning came in mostly stronger-than-expected, with a new print on the labor market handily topping estimates while the second estimate of U.S. economic activity in the third quarter was revised higher. 

The Labor Department reported Wednesday that new weekly jobless claims came in at 199,000 for the week ended Nov. 20. This was the lowest level since November 1969, and was much better than the 260,000 new claims expected.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Economic Analysis released its second estimate on third-quarter U.S. gross domestic product. Quarterly GDP was revised up to a 2.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} annualized rate for the three months ended in September, or above the 2.0{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} rate previously reported. This still represented a marked slowdown from the prior quarter’s 6.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} annualized rate of growth, however. 

The improvement from the prior estimate came as personal consumption, the biggest component of U.S. economic activity, was revised up to a 1.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} pace, from the 1.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} rate previously reported. 

—

7:16 a.m. ET Wednesday: Stock futures drop ahead of economic data

Here were the main moves in markets ahead of the opening bell

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): -13.75 points (-0.29{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,674.75

  • Dow futures (YM=F): -119 points (-0.33{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 35,647.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): -59 points (-0.36{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 16,253.00

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.17 (+0.22{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $78.67 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$3.40 (+0.19{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,787.20 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -0.5 bps to yield 1.66{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

—

6:16 p.m. ET Tuesday: Stock futures open lower 

Here’s where markets were trading Tuesday evening:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): -4.75 points (-0.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,683.75

  • Dow futures (YM=F): -27 points (-0.08{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 35,739.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): -17.25 points (-0.11{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 16,294.75

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on November 15, 2021 in New York City. Following positive economic news out of China, stocks were up in morning trading on Monday with investors looking at retail sales and earnings results out from major U.S. companies later this week. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 15: A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on November 15, 2021 in New York City. Following positive economic news out of China, stocks were up in morning trading on Monday with investors looking at retail sales and earnings results out from major U.S. companies later this week. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

—

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

Posted on

Stocks fall after hotter-than-expected inflation data

Stocks fall after hotter-than-expected inflation data

Stocks extended losses on Wednesday, retreating from this week’s record highs with investors fixing their attention on a key inflation report that showed a greater-than-expected jump in consumer prices last month. 

The S&P 500 Index is coming off its first session of losses following eight straight days of gains, with the Dow and Nasdaq each also pulling back from record-setting runs.

One of the most closely watched reports Wednesday morning was the Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) for October, which counterbalanced strong jobless claims that sank to their lowest of the COVID-19 era.

Consumer prices soared 6.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in October compared to last year, accelerating from September’s 5.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} year-over-year rate. This was a bigger jump than the 5.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} rise anticipated, based on Bloomberg consensus data. And it represented the fastest annual rise in consumer inflation since 1990. 

The staying power and magnitude of inflationary pressures has become a critical question for market participants, with companies across industries reporting rising input costs and price hikes in order to pass on these expenses and preserve margins. While third-quarter earnings results have showed that S&P 500 companies have largely been able to navigate these cost pressures, the possibility remains that lasting inflation could exert a greater impact, especially if consumers ultimately prove unwilling to pay higher prices. 

“That’s going to be one of the big things going forward, to see whether or not that consumer sentiment can bounce back, whether consumers will be resilient in the face of these price pressures, or whether they’ll start to pull back a bit and decide they’re going to hold off on spending and wait to see when prices come down or at least stabilize before they spend more in the new year,” Yung-Yu Ma, BMO Wealth Management’s chief investment strategist, told Yahoo Finance. 

“So that remains to be seen, and that is a big question mark as we go into 2022,” Ma added. 

Inflation data so far has reflected still-elevated pressures in the recovering economy, even as Federal Reserve officials maintained that the supply-related factors creating these heightened costs would eventually wane. Tuesday’s Producer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that prices paid to producers jumped by a marked 8.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in October compared to last year, representing the fastest rise in data extending back to 2010. And last week’s October jobs report showed average hourly earnings jumped 4.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} last month compared to the same period last year, accelerating from September’s 4.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} annual rise. 

Meanwhile, a bevy of companies will report quarterly earnings results, including Disney (DIS), Bumble (BMBL), Wish (WISH) and Beyond Meat (BYND) after market close. 

—

4:03 p.m. ET: Tech shares lead stock drop after hotter-than-expected inflation print; Nasdaq posts worst day since early Oct.

Here were the main moves in markets as of 4:03 p.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -38.55 (-0.82{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,646.70

  • Dow (^DJI): -240.04 (-0.66{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 36,079.94

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -263.84 (-1.66{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,622.71

  • Crude (CL=F): -$2.87 (-3.41{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $81.28 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$22.30 (+1.22{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,853.10 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +12.8 bps to yield 1.5600{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

—

12:17 p.m. ET: Amazon-backed Rivian shares to begin trading after $11.9 billion IPO

Electric-vehicle maker Rivian, backed by companies including Amazon and Ford, is set to see shares begin trading publicly on Wednesday after an upsized initial public offering. The company priced its IPO at $78 per share late Tuesday to raise $11.9 billion, in the sixth largest IPO ever on a U.S. exchange, according to Bloomberg data. 

Investors are already bidding up the stock price further. As of Wednesday afternoon, the stock was indicated to open at $111 apiece, marking a jump from its IPO pricing. The price discovery process was still under way as of 12:17 p.m. ET. 

Rivian has yet to begin delivering its vehicles at scale, and it is expected to produce just 1,200 units by. the end of this year at its flagship plant in Illinois. It expects annual production to hit 150,000 vehicles at this facility by the end of 2023. Amazon has a contract with Rivian to be provided with 100,000 of its vehicles by 2024. 

The company remains unprofitable, however, and its net loss came in at $994 million in the first six months of 2021, compared with a loss of $377 million in the same period in 2020. 

—

12:08 p.m. ET: Biden says reversing elevated inflation is a ‘top priority’

President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he was committed to combatting rising prices, after new data showed consumer prices rose at their fastest pace in more than three decades.

“Inflation hurts Americans’ pocketbooks, and reversing this trend is a top priority for me,” Biden said in a statement following the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ October Consumer Price Index. 

“The largest share of the increase in prices in this report is due to rising energy costs—and in the few days since the data for this report were collected, the price of natural gas has fallen,” Biden added. “I have directed my National Economic Council to pursue means to try to further reduce these costs, and have asked the Federal Trade Commission to strike back at any market manipulation or price gouging in this sector.”

He noted that other price increase reflected the “ongoing struggle to restore smooth operations in the economy” as supply chain snarls continue to weigh on corporate America. He noted he believed his more than $1 trillion infrastructure plan, which passed the House late last week, would help address these concerns. 

—

9:30 a.m. ET: Wall Street opens on a down note

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

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): 4,669.29, -15.96 (-0.34{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a})

  • Dow (^DJI): 36,305.21, -14.77(-0.04{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a})

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): 15,720.30, -166.25 (-1.05{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a})

  • Crude (CL=F): $83.91 per barel, -$0.24 (-0.29{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a})

  • Gold (GC=F): $1,857.30 per ounce, +$26.50 (+1.45{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a})

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +0.43 bps to yield 1.4760{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

—

8:41 a.m. ET: Consumer Price Index posts biggest annual rise since 1990

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) jumped by a much bigger-than-expected margin in October compared to. last month and last year, with inflationary pressures continuing to weigh on the recovering economy.

The CPI rose 0.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in October over September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday, accelerating from September’s 0.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} monthly rise. Consensus economists were looking for a just 0.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} month-on-month increase in October, according to Bloomberg data. 

Over last year, the broadest measure of CPI jumped 6.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, or by the most since 1990. 

Energy was a major contributor to the headline jump in CPI, with energy prices up 4.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} month-on-month, and fuel oil prices alone up 12.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. Groceries also became more expensive, with food at home prices rising by 1.0{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. Used car and truck prices rose 2.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to reverse course after back-to-back months of price drops. The Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that airline fares and alcoholic beverages were two of the only categories to post price declines during the month. 

Even excluding more volatile food and energy prices, consumer prices accelerated markedly last month. This so-called core measure of CPI was up 0.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} on a month-over-month in October, or three times September’s 0.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} rise. And over last year, the core CPI rose 4.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, or by the most since 1991. 

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7:50 a.m. ET: Stock futures point to a lower open ahead of CPI data

Here’s where markets were trading Wednesday morning: 

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): -12.5 points (-0.27{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,665.75 

  • Dow futures (YM=F): -57 points (-0.16{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 36,152.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): -82.75 points (-0.51{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 16,130.00

  • Crude (CL=F): -$0.46 (-0.55{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $83.69 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$3.30 (-0.18{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,827.50 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +2.5 bps to yield 1.474{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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6:02 p.m. ET Tuesday: Stock futures drift lower ahead of inflation data

Here’s where markets were trading Tuesday evening:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): -3.75 points (-0.08{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,674.50

  • Dow futures (YM=F): -33 points (-0.09{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 36,176.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): -16.5 points (-0.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 16,196.25

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on September 30, 2021 in New York City. In afternoon trading the Dow was down over 250 points as investors continue to worry about inflation, wages and supply chain issues. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 30: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on September 30, 2021 in New York City. In afternoon trading the Dow was down over 250 points as investors continue to worry about inflation, wages and supply chain issues. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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

Posted on

Stocks flat as investors grapple with inflation surge, Disney letdown

Stocks flat as investors grapple with inflation surge, Disney letdown

Wall Street was mixed Thursday, with investors grappling with the implications of inflation that has soared to its highest in decades, and third-quarter earnings that are starting to show signs of slowing growth.

The S&P 500 was rose after back-to-back sessions of losses. The Nasdaq outperformed, with some of Wednesday’s biggest technology laggards posting a rebound — led by Netflix (NFLX) which overtook Disney in market capitalization. 

With no notable economic data due out on Thursday due to the Veterans Day holiday, investors have been left to continue responding to the latest batch of mixed economic data. And meanwhile, a couple of closely watched companies missed quarterly earnings estimates, though most S&P 500 companies have topped expectations throughout third-quarter earnings season to date. 

After market close on Wednesday, Dow-component Disney (DIS) reported disappointing sales and profits as Disney+ subscriber growth slowed more than expected. Beyond Meat (BYND) also offered a weak current-quarter revenue forecast, pointing to continued sluggishness in the plant-based meat alternative-maker’s sales trends. Affirm (AFRM), however, saw shares soar in the premarket session, with the buy-now-pay-later financial technology platform topping quarterly sales expectations and unveiling an expanded payments partnership with Amazon. 

Elsewhere, however, elevated demand for electric-vehicle stocks and for shares of newly public companies showed few signs of slowing down after Rivian Automotive’s (RIVN) public debut. The Amazon-backed EV-maker’s stock closed higher by 29{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from its IPO price of $78 per share on its first day trading on the Nasdaq. 

A greater-than-expected jump in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index was a particular source of concern for traders on Wednesday, suggesting elevated price pressures were still present across many categories. The print also overshadowed some other upbeat economic data on the labor market’s recovery, as initial unemployment claims dipped to reach a fresh pandemic-era low last week. 

The broadest measure of consumer price changes rose by a staggering 6.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in October compared to the prior year, representing the biggest annual rise in 31 years. 

“This is certainly telling us, I think, that price pressures are more persistent. They are broader. They are not just narrowly focused on those categories, whether it’s autos and the supply-constrained items. And it’s going to last longer than expected,” Matthew Luzzetti, Deutsche Bank chief U.S. economist, told Yahoo Finance Live. 

Importantly, stickiness in inflation also suggests that the Federal Reserve will need to step in sooner than previously anticipated to raise interest rates in order to help bring rising prices in check. Markets are pricing in an initial hike to bring rates up from their current near-zero levels by mid-2022 — but more prints showing elevated inflation could pull those expectations forward, Luzzetti added. And already, consumers’ outlooks on inflation have increased considerably, with the New York Federal Reserve reporting this week that consumers’ short-term inflation expectations jumped to a record high of 5.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. 

“We do think that the Fed is going to have to raise rates next year. They’ve signaled that they’re going to taper through the middle of the year, and that’s our baseline at this point,” Luzzetti said. “But if you continue to see price pressures like this over the coming months and more persistent, it may cause them to have to act earlier than expected.”

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4:05 p.m. ET: Stocks end mixed: Tech stocks lead Nasdaq comeback while Disney earnings letdown drags on Dow

Here were the main moves in markets as of 4:05 p.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +2.56 (+0.06{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,649.27

  • Dow (^DJI): -158.71 (-0.44{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 35,921.23

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +81.58 (+0.52{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,704.28

  • Crude (CL=F): -$0.17 (-0.21{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $81.17 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$17.00 (+0.92{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,865.30 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): 0 bps to yield 1.5600{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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9:30 a.m. ET: Stocks hug the flatline

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

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): 4,655.17, +8.46 (+0.18{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a})

  • Dow (^DJI): 36,000.82, -79.12 (-0.22{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a})

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): 15,728.25, +105.55 (+0.68{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a})

  • Crude (CL=F): $81.61 per barrel, +$0.27 (+0.33{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a})

  • Gold (GC=F): $1,863.40 per ounce, +$15.10 (+0.82{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a})

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): flat to yield 1.5600{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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7:47 a.m. ET Thursday: Stock futures recover some losses

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

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +16.25 points (+0.35{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,658.25

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +44 points (+0.12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 35,036.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +98.25 points (+0.61{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 16,078.75

  • Crude (CL=F): -$0.59 (-0.73{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $80.75 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$12.30 (+0.67{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,860.60 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +12.1 bps to yield 1.5700{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}

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6:11 p.m. ET Wednesday: Stock futures drift lower ahead of inflation data

Here’s where markets were trading Wednesday evening:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +3 points (+0.06{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 4,645.00

  • Dow futures (YM=F): -8 points (-0.02{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}), to 35,984.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +12.5 points (+0.08{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 15,993.00

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., November 8, 2021. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., November 8, 2021. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

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