By DAMIAN J. TROISE and ALEX VEIGA, AP Small business Writers
NEW YORK (AP) — Technology firms led a wide rally for stocks Friday as Wall Road notched its greatest 7 days in 18 months. The get broke a seven-7 days losing streak for the market place, the longest this kind of stretch because 2001.
The S&P 500 rose 2.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} and completed 6.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} bigger for the 7 days, its ideal weekly attain considering that November 2020. The Dow Jones Industrial Common rose 1.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} and the tech-large Nasdaq attained 3.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}.
The strong end for the week arrived as investors obtained perhaps encouraging news about inflation. The Commerce Section said that inflation rose 6.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in April from a 12 months previously, the initial slowdown due to the fact November 2020 and a indication that significant price ranges may possibly last but not least be moderating, at least for now.
The report was unveiled as Wall Avenue appears for any signal that inflation could be easing, although making an attempt to determine out just how lower shares may sink.
Political Cartoons
“At this issue that is all the current market desires,” explained Ross Mayfield, expense system analyst at Baird. “It’s certainly one particular of the signals you would want to see.”
The S&P 500 finished 100.40 points greater at 4,158.24. The Nasdaq rose 390.48 points to 12,131.13. It was the third straight achieve for both indexes. The Dow rose 575.77 details to 33,212.96, its sixth-straight attain.
Smaller enterprise shares also acquired ground. The Russell 2000 rose 49.66 points, or 2.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, to 1,887.90.
The broader industry has been in a slump for practically two months as concerns about inflation and climbing interest premiums pile up. Buyers have been spooked very last week by disappointing stories from key retailers, together with Walmart and Target, which stoked fears about soaring inflation hitting income margins and crimping client expending.
Investing remained choppy all over the 7 days, even though the industry mainly pushed greater, as shops like Macy’s and Greenback General introduced encouraging earnings stories and fiscal updates.
Suppliers had been among the major gainers Friday as buyers continued reviewing the most current spherical of earnings to get a superior perception of just how substantially suffering climbing inflation is inflicting on companies and consumers. Elegance solutions business Ulta Attractiveness surged 12.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} for the largest get in the S&P 500 immediately after boosting its income forecast for the 12 months. Amazon rose 3.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}.
Disappointing monetary updates and earnings weighed on quite a few corporations. Apparel retailer American Eagle fell 6.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} following noted weak initially-quarter earnings.
Inflation is at a 4-decade superior and has been persistently squeezing companies. Increased prices prompted firms to elevate selling prices on all the things from meals to clothes to secure their margins and buyers remained resilient. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine worsened the inflation image by pushing international power and food stuff price ranges even better.
U.S. crude oil charges had been rather secure, but are up approximately 60{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in 2022. Wheat selling prices are up about 50{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} and corn charges are up 30{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} this 12 months.
Supply chain issues at the heart of climbing inflation had been worsened in the wake of China’s lockdown for a number of important metropolitan areas.
The extra inflation squeeze has manufactured it even a lot more tricky for enterprises to offset expenses and is seemingly prompting a shift in purchaser paying absent from high-priced products and toward necessities. It has also elevated concerns that the Federal Reserve could have an even additional hard time attempting to mood the effects from inflation.
The Fed is aggressively increasing curiosity prices to fight inflation, but buyers are anxious that it could possibly press the financial system into a recession if it moves too aggressively.
The produce on the 10-year Treasury, which allows set property finance loan rates, slipped to 2.74{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from 2.75{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} late Thursday.
Veiga documented from Los Angeles.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Push. All rights reserved. This materials may possibly not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
U.S. stocks ended higher Monday, erasing earlier losses in the day as concerns over an escalating COVID outbreak in China added to jitters over U.S. economic growth in the face of heightened inflation and monetary policy tightening.
The S&P 500 rose by 0.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to reach 4,296.12. The Dow added more than 200 points, or 0.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, to settle at 34,049.46, and the Nasdaq Composite rose by 1.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to close just above 13,000. U.S. stocks bucked the trend of global equity markets, with the major stock indexes in Europe and Asia largely falling on Monday. U.S. Treasury yields dipped, and the benchmark 10-year yield hovered just above 2.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}.
West Texas intermediate crude oil futures fell below $100 per barrel, with fears over the economic impact of broadening virus-related restrictions throughout China mounting. Beijing saw a spike in COVID cases over the weekend that prompted more mandatory testing and some lockdowns in the region. And this came as other populous cities including Shanghai have also recently grappled with fresh waves of infections, even as the country works to abolish the virus under a zero-COVID policy.
In a note published last week, Bank of America economist Helen Qiao slashed her forecast for China’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 4.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from 4.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} for 2022 as the number of lockdowns throughout the country increased.
“COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions imposed in Shanghai and neighboring cities are not only hitting local demand but also causing logistic breakdowns and widespread supply-chain disruptions within and outside of the area,” Qiao wrote in the note published April 19. “In our view, even if such control measures will ultimately be rolled back and economic activities will gradually normalize by mid-year, a heavy toll on growth already seems inevitable.”
Meanwhile, investors have also been grappling with reassertions from Federal Reserve officials last week that the central bank would be taking a tough stance on reining in inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell as well as San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly were among the latest to suggest they saw the case for 50 basis point interest rate hikes this year. These larger-than-typical increases would front-load the Fed’s monetary policy response to inflation in the near-term.
“Mr. Powell once again highlighted the Fed’s focus on elevated prices and the need for policy to move towards neutral to restore price stability. His comments pretty much confirm market expectations of a 50-basis-point hike at the May 3-4 FOMC meeting, which would be the first such move since 2000,” Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, wrote in a note. “While Mr. Powell did not comment on the trajectory of policy beyond the May FOMC meeting, other Fed officials — including San Francisco President Daly and Chicago President Evans — have said that a couple of 50-basis-point hikes are possible this year.”
Though Federal Reserve officials are in a quiet period this week ahead of the central bank’s meeting next week, a packed slate of corporate earnings results will pull investors’ attention. In the coming days, a bevy of major companies and stock index components will post results, including Alphabet (GOOGL), Meta Platforms (FB), Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN).
As of Friday, about one-fifth of S&P 500 companies had reported their actual first-quarter results. Of these, 79{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} topped Wall Street’s earnings estimates, while 69{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} exceeded sales expectations, according to data from FactSet’s senior earnings analyst John Butters. The expected earnings growth rate for the index stood at 6.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} heading into this week, which if carried through the end of reporting season, would mark the slowest growth rate since the fourth quarter of 2020, Butters noted.
—
4:03 p.m. ET: Stocks recover to end 3-day losing streak as traders look ahead to Big Tech earnings: Nasdaq gains 1.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
Here were the main moves in markets as of 4:03 p.m. ET:
S&P 500 (^GSPC): +24.34 (+0.57{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,296.12
Dow (^DJI): +238.06 (+0.70{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,049.46
Nasdaq (^IXIC): +165.56 (+1.29{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,004.85
Crude (CL=F): -$2.92 (-2.86{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $99.15 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): -$34.70 (-1.79{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,899.60 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): -8 bps to yield 2.8260{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
—
2:54 p.m. ET: Twitter announces it will be acquired by Elon Musk
Twitter formally announced it agreed to be purchased by Tesla CEO Elon Musk for $54.20 per share, or $44 billion.
Twitter shareholders are set to each receive $54.20 in cash for each share held, representing a 38{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} premium over Twitter’s closing level on April 1.
“Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,” Musk said in a press statement. “I also want to make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans. Twitter has tremendous potential – I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it.”
—
12:42 p.m. ET: S&P 500, Dow hold lower, Nasdaq pares some earlier declines
The three major stock indexes traded mostly lower Monday afternoon, though the tech-heavy Nasdaq pared most earlier losses to trade near the flat-line after 12 p.m. ET.
Shares of Chevron, Verizon and Dow Inc. led declines in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which dropped 0.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} Monday afternoon. In the S&P 500, the energy, materials and utilities sectors lagged, and communication services was the only sector in the green.
The CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, spiked more than 8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to top 31 for the highest level since March 15.
—
9:31 a.m. ET: Stocks open lower
Here’s where stocks were trading just after the opening bell Monday morning:
S&P 500 (^GSPC): -38.31 (-0.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,233.47
Dow (^DJI): -278.52 (-0.82{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 33,532.88
Nasdaq (^IXIC): -86.85 (-0.68{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 12,757.91
Crude (CL=F): -$5.32 (-5.21{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $96.75 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): -$31.40 (-1.62{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,902.90 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): -9.8 bps to yield 2.808{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
Adjusted operating revenue grew 16{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} over last year to reach $10.5 billion, topping consensus expectations for $9.8 billion, according to Bloomberg data. Company-wide unit case volume — a closely watched measure for Coca-Cola — rose 8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, with growth coming most prominently from the company’s nutrition, juice, dairy and plant-based beverages segment, where unit case volume increased 12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. On the bottom line, comparable earnings per share reached 64 cents versus the 58 cents expected.
For the full year, Coca-Cola said it expects its to see commodity price inflation be in the mid-single digit percentages. It also expected the suspension of its business in Russia to generate a 1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} impact to full-year unit case volume, and a 1-2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} impact on net revenues and operating income.
—
7:06 a.m. ET: Stock futures decline, adding to last week’s losses
Here’s where stocks were trading Monday morning:
S&P 500 futures (ES=F): -36.25 (-0.85{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,231.00
Dow futures (YM=F): -270 (-0.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 33,458.00
Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): -106.75 (-0.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,246.75
Crude (CL=F): -$4.73 (-4.63{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $97.34
Gold (GC=F): -$23.10 (-1.19{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,911.20 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): -6.9 bps to yield 2.837{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 30: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on March 30, 2022 in New York City. U.S. stocks opened low after rallying to start the week. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
U.S. stocks gained on Wednesday as investors monitored a series of closely watched earnings reports and further digested a hot print on inflation in the U.S.
[Click here to read what’s moving markets on Thursday, April 4]
The S&P 500 jumped by more than 1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, ending a three-day losing streak. The Nasdaq Composite outperformed and rose 2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} as technology shares jumped and Treasury yields pulled back across the curve.
Investors received a number of quarterly reports from some major U.S. companies and stock index components early Wednesday morning. These included JPMorgan Chase (JPM) — the largest U.S. bank by assets — along with Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Bed, Bath & Beyond (BBBY).
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon offered a cautiously upbeat view of the U.S. economy in the bank’s earnings release on Wednesday. Dimon noted that he remained “optimistic on the economy, at least for the short term,” but still sees “significant geopolitical and economic challenges ahead due to high inflation, supply chain issues and the war in Ukraine.” And the bank also built up its credit reserves by a net $902 million, “largely due to higher probabilities of downside risk,” Dimon said.
Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines, one of the major airlines at the center of the reopening trade, suggested business would pick up further in the current quarter even as first-quarter results showed another loss, as the airline grappled with the omicron variant wave earlier this year. The carrier returned to profitability in the month of March, Delta noted, and noted that revenue is expected to reach between 92{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} and 97{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of pre-pandemic levels during the current quarter ended in June.
This early set of earnings reports helped set the tone for what is expected to ultimately be a much milder quarter for earnings growth than in recent periods. As companies grapple with rising labor, raw material and transportation costs and lap last year’s initial reopening-fueled jump in activity, many on Wall Street are looking for narrower margins than in recent quarters, even as sales hold up strongly amid elevated consumer demand and rising prices. Across the S&P 500, companies in aggregate are expected to report year-over-year earnings growth of just 4.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, which if realized, would mark the slowest rate since the fourth quarter of 2020, according to FactSet.
“This earnings season becomes one of the most important earnings seasons because it’s going to give you a lot of insight into which companies … have that durable demand, which companies have that pricing power,” Kristen Bitterly, Citi head of global wealth investments, told Yahoo Finance Live on Tuesday.
“Even in decades like the 1970s, when we had extreme inflation, large-cap quality U.S. equity shares were able to double their share price over that period,” she added. “So that’s the pocket of the market where we’re confidently either staying invested or getting invested.”
And indeed, inflation has remained a primary concern for investors, threatening to weigh further on both consumers’ wallets and corporate profits. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ March Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed inflation rose at the fastest rate since late 1981 last month, jumping by a slightly faster-than-expected 8.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} over last year.
However, some economists suggested the report was not all bad news, and showed some tentative signs of a peak in the rate of price increases.
“The CPI report I think actually has a little bit more good news in it than it appears right on the surface … there’re a number of things in here that suggests that we’re starting to see inflation peak, and it will roll over in the next few months,” Tom Simmons, Jefferies fixed income money market economist, told Yahoo Finance Live on Tuesday. “[It’s] important to keep in mind that CPI, for March, the reference period here was right after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. So really, it’s capturing the most acute period of gasoline price increases. And we’ve seen them already starting to soften in the market a little bit in the few weeks since.”
“The other thing is that services ex-energy — and if you strip out the airline component — that was actually a little bit softer as well than the last few months,” he added. “Housing actually came in a little bit softer in the last few months as well, and goods ex-energy also are coming in a little bit softer as well. So you know, the consumer has been pretty well able to weather the storm here with inflation.”
—
4:05 p.m. ET: Stocks close higher, Nasdaq gains 2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
Here’s where stocks closed out Wednesday’s session:
S&P 500 (^GSPC): +49.14 (+1.12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,46.59
Dow (^DJI): +344.23 (+1.01{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,564.59
Nasdaq (^IXIC): +272.02 (+2.03{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,643.59
Crude (CL=F): +$3.62 (+3.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $104.22 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): +$5.10 (+0.26{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,981.20 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): -3 bps to yield 2.697{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
—
1:03 p.m. ET: Bed Bath & Beyond shares turn positive despite surprise quarterly loss
Shares of Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) gained intraday on Wednesday, shaking off early losses of as much as 12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} after the retailer posted an unexpected loss for its fiscal fourth quarter and missed sales expectations.
Adjusted losses were 92 cents a share, whereas Wall Street analysts were looking for earnings of 13 cents a share during the holiday shopping season. Comparable sales were also down 12{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, or more than the 8.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} drop anticipated, based on Bloomberg consensus data.
“We are disappointed that our sales and gross margin performance does not reflect our team’s hard work and execution against both strategic and transformation efforts in 2021,” the company’s CEO Mark Tritton said in the quarterly report’s press release.
“Macroeconomic factors, such as the disruption of the global supply chain, the Omicron variant, as well as the geopolitical turbulence weighing on consumer confidence, have uncovered more vulnerabilities than we could have foreseen at this stage of our transformation, as we completely rebuild the foundation of our business,” he added.
—
11:21 a.m. ET: Peloton shares gain after activist investor Blackwells Capital calls for sale
“Peloton is a strategically valuable asset that is attractive to many potential acquirers,” according to Blackwells Capital’s slide deck. “An insightful and capable operator would be willing to pay a premium beyond conventional cost and revenue synergies for the opportunity to ‘Reimagine Peloton’ as a dramatically different business than it is today.”
Jason Aintabi, chief investment officer of Blackwells, also doubled down on his criticism of Peloton’s former CEO John Foley, who remains on the board as executive chairman.
“Peloton will continue to be poorly valued for as long as a close-knit group of insiders, who have proven themselves incapable of creating value, continue to wield voting power far in excess of their economic interest,” Aintabi said in a statement. “No shareholder should want Mr. Foley to still sit atop the management pyramid or control the Board through his super voting-stock. He lost his entitlement to both positions when he destroyed $40 billion of shareholder wealth in less than a year.”
—
9:31 a.m. ET: Stocks look for direction
Here were the main moves in markets as of 9:31 a.m. ET:
S&P 500 (^GSPC): -4.23 (-0.10{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,393.22
Dow (^DJI): -32.30 (-0.09{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,188.06
Nasdaq (^IXIC): -9.23 (-0.07{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,362.34
Crude (CL=F): +$1.44 (+1.43{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $102.04 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): +$5.20 (+0.26{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,981.30 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): -2.6 bps to yield 2.6990{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
—
8:50 a.m. ET: Producer prices hit new high
U.S. producer prices for final demand rose 1.4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in March after rising 0.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in February, the Labor Department said on Wednesday. For the full year, PPI jumped 11.2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} — the biggest gain since the 12-month data was calculated in November 2010. The results superseded estimates of 10.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, according to Bloomberg consensus.
The latest print suggests inflation will remain elevated as Russia’s war on the Ukraine rages on and pushes prices of oil and other commodities higher.
—
7:20 a.m. ET: Stock futures rise amid earnings
Here’s where stocks were trading Wednesday morning:
S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +26.5 points (+0.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,419.50
Dow futures (YM=F): +172 points (+0.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,311.00
Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +110.75 points (+0.79{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,055.75
Crude (CL=F): +$1.45 (+1.44{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $102.05 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): +$4.20 (+0.21{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,980.30 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): +0.6 bps to yield 2.733{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
—
7:03 a.m. ET: JPMorgan posts mixed Q1 results as investment banking revenue slides over last year
JPMorgan Chase posted a mixed first-quarter results, with overall adjusted revenue topping Wall Street’s estimates while some major businesses within the bank showed some softening.
Adjusted revenue of $31.6 billion dropped 4.6{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} over last year but exceeded consensus estimates for $31.4 billion, according to Bloomberg data. Both fixed income and equity sales and trading revenue topped expectations while declining compared to last year, with these coming out to about $5.7 billion and $3.1 billion, respectively. Investment banking revenue, however, sank by a more marked 28{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} and missed estimates, totaling $2.06 billion as equity and debt underwriting activity decreased at the start of this year compared to last.
CEO Jamie Dimon also noted that the banks core lending business remained solid during the quarter.
“Lending strength continued with average firmwide loans up 5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} while credit losses are still at historically low levels,” Dimon said in the earnings release.
—
6:50 a.m. ET: Delta shares rise after airline posts narrower-than-expected Q1 loss, returns to profitability in March
Adjusted losses came out to $1.23 per share for the March quarter, or narrower than the $1.26 per share loss consensus analysts expected, according to Bloomberg data. Adjusted revenue was $8.2 billion, and was 79{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} recovered compared to levels from the comparable quarter in 2019 before the pandemic. Capacity was 83{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} restored relative to the pre-pandemic period, Delta added.
For the current quarter ending in June, Delta said it expects capacity to further rebound to 84{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of June quarter 2019 levels, with total revenue between 93{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} and 97{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of levels from that period in 2019.
“With a strong rebound in demand as omicron faded, we returned to profitability in the month of March, producing a solid adjusted operating margin of almost 10{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a},” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in the company’s earnings release Wednesday morning. “As our brand preference and demand momentum grow, we are successfully recapturing higher fuel prices, driving our outlook for a 12 to 14{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} adjusted operating margin and strong free cash flow in the June quarter.”
—
6:10 p.m. ET Tuesday: Stock futures head for a lower open
Here’s where markets were trading Tuesday evening before the opening bell:
S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +4.25 points (+0.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,397.25
Dow futures (YM=F): +33 points (+0.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,172.00
Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +17.75 points (+0.13{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 13,962.75
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 12: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during afternoon trading on April 12, 2022 in New York City. Data released this morning showed that inflation rose 8.5 percent in March, the highest annual increase since December 1981, amid energy prices soaring due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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)
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.
—
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)
—
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.
—
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}
—
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}
—
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}
—
11:13 a.m. ET: Mortgage rates top 4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
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.
—
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.
—
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
—
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}
—
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)
—
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.”
—
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}
—
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)
—
Alexandra Semenova is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alexandraandnyc
Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
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
“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
—
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
Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
