Volatility defines ag commodity outlook

Volatility defines ag commodity outlook

LA QUINTA, CALIF. — War, weather, economic pressure and limited world wide provides continue on to generate volatility across many commodities, industry experts stated at the Intercontinental Sweetener Colloquium in La Quinta, Calif., on March 1.

Just after a generation surge in 2020-21, world wide dairy markets saw a sharp drop in international dairy goods in 2021-22 and analysts are forecasting a sluggish recovery for present-day and potential dairy markets worldwide.

“During the pandemic, dairy farmers throughout the earth obtained the signal to generate more products,” said Mary Ledman, world strategist for dairy at Rabobank. But temperature, diminished export opportunities and higher feed charges have pressured new manufacturing. The United States, for occasion, noticed a reduction in the common compound progress charge of dairy output mostly due to compressed profit margins from rising feed costs.

“We’ve had a correction in milk charges, but farmers are nonetheless having to buy highly-priced feed,” Ms. Ledman claimed. “If corn costs get back again down to $4 a bu, then we can flip the taps again on in dairy.”

Decreased shipments to China, the world’s most significant importer of dairy merchandise, also have impacted manufacturing in exporting nations around the world.

“China imported 850,000 tonnes of milk powder in 2021, but they came into the market at 200,000 tonnes much less in 2022, which induced the current market to truly feel underwhelmed from a demand from customers standpoint,” Ms. Ledman mentioned.

But US exports of some dairy products and solutions, like butterfat, actually improved very last calendar year.

“The United States is buying up the market’s share of exports,” Ms. Ledman mentioned, explaining US exports of butterfat have been expected to boost nearly 9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} since US prices are presently some of the cheapest in the world. US trade of some dairy goods to China experienced elevated, this kind of as exports of dry whey and other protein-weighty dairy components to fulfill China’s robust demand for animal feed and toddler formula goods. World wide dairy stocks have been modestly escalating with the United States foremost the way, but Ms. Ledman cautioned that any variety of sector event may well outcome in major rate upswings.

Global stocks of grain and oilseeds, however, even now had been tight amid frequently powerful desire, and the outlook for these markets remained uncertain.

“There are several swing components in play from what’s heading to take place to the economic climate to unstable geopolitical conditions,” stated Stephen Nicholson, executive vice president, worldwide sector strategist for grains and oilseeds at RaboResearch Foods and Agribusiness.

A single main current market issue Mr. Nicholson touched on was weather, stating drought continues to affect important grain producing locations in a number of international locations, such as the United States, which has seen many declining years in its stocks to use ratios for wheat.

“We now have the worst ailments for winter season wheat output in the United States than we’ve at any time had prior to,” Mr. Nicholson claimed. “It will be a challenge to see what variety of crops we’ll have considering the fact that anything desires to be perfect heading forward, which will in the long run hold rates supported till we see what we have.”

A new forecast for a bumper corn crop in the United States had slight affect on the market place as analysts regarded as the present-day squeeze on revenue margins from former years’ challenges with prolonged dryness. In the past 12 several years, the Corn Belt has only expert a single drought-no cost yr in 2015.

“Barring any temperature problems, we’re going to see a even larger corn crop simply because they are likely to plant as significantly as they can, but I do not imagine we’ll go back again to $4 or even $5 a bu corn,” Mr. Nicholson reported.

This year’s crop will be dependent on well timed rains considering the fact that yrs of dryness during parts of the Corn Belt has depleted soil moisture levels, which influences yields. Mr. Nicholson projected 2023-24 corn prices to vary from $5.50 to $6.75 a bu.

Even the mammoth soybean crop in Brazil was having difficulties with weather conditions outcomes. Hefty rains ended up delaying its harvest, most likely narrowing the country’s window to increase yields, and delaying planting of the follow-on corn crop.

Ukrainian grain exports from find Black Sea ports experienced stabilized, but the humanitarian agreement permitting safe and sound passage was below persistent threat from Russia. Attempts to fortify infrastructure supportive of alternate export channels had been underway in Ukraine, but they also served as new susceptible targets for long run armed service attacks.

“We also have to consider about what’s occurring in the Center East,” Mr. Nicholson stated. “That region has a leadership vacuum and there are players from Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and Israel all wanting to make a stand, and if a little something occurs in this space, then oil charges are likely to rocket up, which will impression all commodities.”

Mr. Nicholson also expects soybean and soybean oil charges to be nicely supported due to strong demand from customers, expanding crush, robust crush margins and developing desire from the biofuels sector. Soybean oil price ranges have fallen from peak ranges in 2022 where by they neared 80¢ a lb but are now attempting to obtain help all-around 58¢ a lb, which may possibly be a paying for possibility for some users.

“From a buyer’s perspective, you have to uncover a great rationale not to put coverage on because soybean oil will probably be well supported heading ahead,” Mr. Nicholson said.

Charges for soybean oil have occur down partly because of to constrained demand from customers from renewable diesel vegetation, which haven’t occur on the web as rapidly as the market place anticipated. Also, need for soybean meal has surged. Traders very long on soybean food have reached in close proximity to file degrees, but Mr. Nicholson indicated the ascent of soybean meal and the bullish unfold among meal and oil was a little bit precarious.

“When you communicate to livestock producers, they’re disappointed at the substantial rates,” Mr. Nicholson reported, adding that the historic spread among the two merchandise could switch sites quickly, in particular since the need for renewable diesel feedstocks is envisioned to expand, which has spurred an explosion in renewable diesel refineries whose main feedstock is vegetable oil.

“But, need to all the renewable diesel creation ability be realized, there will still not be ample vegetable oil domestically or globally to satisfy the desire,” Mr. Nicholson cautioned.

Why dollar-cost averaging may pay off amid stock market volatility

Why dollar-cost averaging may pay off amid stock market volatility

Chris Ryan | Getty Photographs

Investors are bracing for 2023 amid stock market place volatility, mounting interest prices and geopolitical danger — with numerous carrying economic downturn fears into the new calendar year.  

But even with economic uncertainty, financial gurus point to timely opportunities, urging investors to place cash into the current market, instead than leaving it on the sidelines.

Agreeing with lots of in the advisor group, Betterment CEO Sarah Levy stated she expects a “turbulent and unstable to start with fifty percent of 2023,” but her extensive-term outlook is optimistic.  

“Above a 5- and 10-calendar year horizon, this is a fantastic second for that greenback-price averaging prospect,” she stated, talking at CNBC’s Money Advisor Summit on Tuesday.

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The method powering dollar-charge averaging is putting your cash to do the job by investing at set intervals around time, no matter of what transpires in the market. 

Even though study displays investing a lump sum sooner may possibly offer you higher returns, some authorities say dollar-value averaging may support prevent psychological financial commitment selections.

Immediately after double-digit losses in 2022 for each the stock and bond marketplaces, it is uncomplicated to see why some might be hesitant to carry on investing. But experts say the anxiety of reduction can be expensive, and you might miss the market’s ideal restoration days.

Recession concerns are motivating employees to practice 'career cushioning'

The 10 ideal times above the earlier 20 a long time transpired soon after big declines for the duration of the 2008 money disaster or the pullback in 2020, in accordance to an analysis from J.P. Morgan. 

“Just take command of the issues you can control,” Levy stated, noting that automatic, recurring investments can assist “take the emotion out of the equation,” when the marketplaces dip, she claimed.

There are possibilities for hard cash as curiosity costs increase

3 Ways to Cope With Stock Market Volatility | Smart Change: Personal Finance

3 Ways to Cope With Stock Market Volatility | Smart Change: Personal Finance

Though stock industry volatility is almost nothing new, it can be challenging for investors to deal with however. And to say that the start of 2022 has been volatile would likely be rather of an understatement.

But while the market place has been intense about the previous quantity of weeks, the superior news is that factors should settle down at some point. Until eventually that comes about, in this article are a handful of methods to ride out the storm.

Picture resource: Getty Photos.

1. Pull funds you may well want in the in close proximity to time period out of the marketplace

As a typical rule, it is not a good notion to spend money you consider you will require in 5 yrs. And you absolutely should not have your emergency fund invested in shares, due to the fact you could conclude up locking in losses if or when you need to have that money in a pinch.

But you may well have cash earmarked for comparatively close to-expression ambitions in stocks, like the down payment you happen to be hoping to save up for a house. Which is revenue that truly should not be sitting down in stocks in standard, and unquestionably not proper now.

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2. Do not check your portfolio stability everyday

Depending on your balance and specific holdings, you could be looking at your portfolio price fall by $10,000, $20,000, or extra from 1 working day to the subsequent during this period of time of volatility. Which is plenty of to push even a seasoned trader to the issue of worry.

It can be for this motive that you ought to keep away from checking your portfolio harmony every working day in the course of rocky durations like the one particular we are in the midst of. Carrying out so could direct you to rash conclusions, like advertising off investments fairly than waiting around points out and preventing losses.

If you actually will have to test your portfolio harmony on a recurrent foundation, restrict by yourself to when a 7 days. But if you happen to be not preparing to tap your portfolio at any time soon — say, your investments are all earmarked for retirement price savings uses and you approach to perform a different 15 decades — then why torture your self?

3. Make positive you are effectively diversified

A numerous portfolio could make it less complicated to journey out periods of market place volatility, so the one state of affairs exactly where it does spend to test on your portfolio is to make positive your belongings are spread out across distinct segments of the marketplace. If you see that you might be much too loaded in a one phase, you may know to change points about.

You can also diversify your holdings by investing in broad current market exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These allow for you to own a bunch of unique firms with a one expenditure. For illustration, if you purchase S&P 500 ETFs, they’re going to successfully give you publicity to the 500 biggest publicly traded corporations.

One more very good way to diversify your portfolio is to search at REITs, or authentic estate investment decision trusts. REITs are regarded to pay earlier mentioned-regular dividends, which signifies they can be a great supply of cash flow. The value of REITs also isn’t going to often increase and tumble in immediate correlation with stock industry motion, so they could purchase you some defense when points get dicey.

Inventory market turbulence is some thing a lot of investors struggle with. If the earlier couple of months have remaining you experience unsettled, know that you happen to be not alone. At the exact time, get these important steps to enable by yourself get through these rocky occasions unscathed.

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Stocks whipsaw to extend streak of volatility amid Fed update

Stocks whipsaw to extend streak of volatility amid Fed update

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here were the main moves in markets in midday trading:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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