Tag Archives: Federal Reserve

Stocks Higher; S&P 500 Positive For 2016

U.S. stocks opened higher Friday, extending a recent rally as oil prices rose and the dollar weakened following the Federal Reserve’s more accommodative policy decision earlier in the week.

The S&P 500 traded in positive territory for 2016 with financials leading nearly all sectors higher.

U.S. crude oil futures for April delivery extended recent gains to briefly top $41 a barrel in morning trade ET.

Options expiration on Friday will likely contribute to volatility.

The U.S. dollar index recovered slightly from a recent decline to trade mildly higher, but is still off more than 1 percent for the week so far. The euro was just below $1.13 and the yen at 111.53 yen against the greenback.

Friday:
Quadruple Witching
10 a.m.: Consumer sentiment
10 a.m.: Atlanta Fed business inflation expectations
11 a.m.: Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren speaks
1 p.m.: Oil rig count
St. Louis Fed President James Bullard

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Stocks Try For Gains As Energy Rises

U.S. stocks traded in a narrow range Thursday as the Federal Reserve’s Wednesday announcement remained in focus amid several data releases.

The Dow Jones industrial average tried for slight gains in morning trade, with Exxon Mobil and Boeing among the top contributors to gains.

Energy led S&P 500 advancers.

Coming Up:

Thursday

Earnings: Adobe Systems
10 a.m.: JOLTS
10 a.m.: Leading indicators
10:30 a.m.: Natural gas inventories
4:30 p.m.: Fed balance sheet/Money supply

Friday

Quadruple Witching
Earnings: Tiffany
9 a.m.: New York Fed President William Dudley speaks
10 a.m.: Consumer sentiment
10 a.m.: Atlanta Fed business inflation expectations
11 a.m.: Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren speaks
1 p.m.: Oil rig count
1:30 p.m.: St. Louis Fed President James Bullard

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Dow Briefly Up 100 Points

Stocks traded higher today, helped by a risingoil prices, following the release of the Fed’s statement.

Federal Reserve  Chairwoman Janet Yellen said in a press conference following the statement release that policymakers have not concluded inflation has seen a significant, lasting uptick.

The Dow 30  briefly gained 100 points, with Chevron, Caterpillar and IBM among the top contributors to gains. Goldman Sachs was the greatest contributor to declines.

Coming Up Later This Week:

Thursday

Bank of England monetary policy announcement and minutes

Earnings: Tencent, Michaels Cos., Intl. Game Technology, Lands’ End, Adobe Systems

8:30 a.m.: Jobless claims

8:30 a.m.: Philly Fed business outlook survey

8:30 a.m.: Current account

10 a.m.: JOLTS

10 a.m.: Leading indicators

10:30 a.m.: Natural gas inventories

4:30 p.m.: Fed balance sheet/Money supply

Friday

Quadruple Witching

Earnings: Tiffany

9 a.m.: New York Fed President William Dudley speaks

10 a.m.: Consumer sentiment

10 a.m.: Atlanta Fed business inflation expectations

11 a.m.: Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren speaks

1 p.m.: Oil rig count

1:30 p.m.: St. Louis Fed President James Bullard

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Nasdaq briefly positive; Street awaits Fed

WEDNESDAY – U.S. stocks traded in narrow range Wednesday after morning data and ahead of the scheduled afternoon conclusion of the Fed meeting.

Treasury yields climbed, with the 2-year topping 1 percent for its highest since Jan. 8, after inflation and housing data.

Stocks opened lower and held mostly in the red in morning trade. The Nasdaq composite briefly attempted gains.

The FOMC is due to conclude its two-day meeting on Wednesday with the 2 p.m. ET release of its statement and economic projections. Those include the highly scrutinized “dot plot,” which shows the targets for appropriate federal funds rates by FOMC participants. Fed Chair Janet Yellen is also scheduled to give a news conference at 2:30 p.m.

Oil traded higher, with WTI above $37 a barrel following news producers will meet next month in Qatar to discuss a proposal to freeze output.

Coming Up:

Wednesday

Earnings: FedEx, Ctrip.com Intl., Guess, Herman Miller, Jabil Circuit
10:30 a.m.: Oil inventories
1 p.m.: European Central Bank President Mario Draghi gives welcoming remarks at ECB Contemporary Art From Poland Exhibition
2 p.m.: FOMC meeting announcement
2:30 p.m.: Fed Chair Janet Yellen press conference

Thursday

Bank of England monetary policy announcement and minutes
Earnings: Tencent, Michaels Cos., Intl. Game Technology, Lands’ End, Adobe Systems
8:30 a.m.: Jobless claims
8:30 a.m.: Philly Fed business outlook survey
8:30 a.m.: Current account
10 a.m.: JOLTS
10 a.m.: Leading indicators
10:30 a.m.: Natural gas inventories
4:30 p.m.: Fed balance sheet/Money supply

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Stocks Slightly Higher After Data

U.S. stocks traded mostly higher Friday, on pace to end the week with solid gains, as oil prices rose amid some data reports.

Personal income in January rose 0.5 percent, while personal spending rose 0.5 percent. The core PCE, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.3 percent.

The core PCE price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation measure, increased 1.7 percent in the 12 months through January, the largest rise since July 2014, after rising 1.5 percent in December.

Stocks pared gains following the report and the Dow Jones industrial average briefly fell into negative territory. Oil also came off session highs.

As of this morning, the major U.S. averages were on pace to end the week with gains of more than 2 percent.

The S&P 500 closed above the key 1,950 resistance level Thursday as stocks rallied into the close. Both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones industrial average were within 10 percent of their 52-week intraday highs, out of correction territory.

Coming Up:

G-20 meets in Shanghai
10 a.m. Consumer sentiment, personal income, consumer spending
Earnings: J.C. Penney, Foot Locker, Sotheby’s, Sempra Energy, AmericanTower, Centerpoint, Liberty Media, Telefonica, Rowan Cos

Saturday:
Earnings: Berkshire Hathaway

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Stock Market: The Week Ahead

With next week’s calendar full of economic data releases and speeches by economic policymakers, investors have been poised to watch the Federal Reserve for clues about the U.S. central bank’s next move, but an unexpectedly hot reading on inflation on Friday will further sharpen that focus.

After coming into 2016 with an expectation of three or four interest rate hikes through the year, market participants recently were viewing the Fed as likely raising interest rates once, if at all, in light of weak inflation and global volatility.

But Friday’s data showed the core consumer price index (CPI), a measure of underlying U.S. inflation, rose in January by the most in nearly 4-1/2 years to a 2.2 percent annualized rate. It drew particular attention as the number was above the Fed’s 2.0 percent target, though it is not the central bank’s benchmark inflation measure.

The uptick in price pressures has already shifted the market’s expectations on the Fed’s next move.

The dollar rose alongside Treasury yields shortly after the data, as markets saw the higher inflation as nudging the Fed toward tightening policy. The euro hit its lowest since Feb. 3.

Equity markets have also closely followed expectations on Fed policy. Lower rates tend to support stocks in general, with high-paying dividend names like utilities gaining investors’ favor. In an environment of rising rates, banks tend to take the lead.

The expectation of higher interest rates has been cited as one of the reasons for stocks having fallen as much as 11 percent this year. The S&P 500 .SPX is down 6 percent so far in 2016, and on track for its third positive week of the year.

The inflation numbers add to recent economic data, including a stronger job market and consumer spending, that will force the Fed to seriously reconsider more rate hikes, said Jim Paulsen, chief investment officer at Wells Capital Management in Minneapolis.

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Stock Futures Higher After Janet Yellen Remarks

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a sharply higher open on Wednesday after a very volatile week so far, as investors digested the written testimony from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.

In her prepared remarks, Yellen said that, if the economy were to disappoint, a lower path of Fed funds rates would be appropriate. She also said that near-term inflation remains low due to falling energy prices, but that the FOMC expects inflation to reach 2 percent in the medium term.

Dow futures held about 110 points higher after the testimony’s release, after briefly gaining 150 points. Yellen is scheduled to testify in front of Congress Wednesday and Thursday.

Coming Up This Week:

Wednesday
MBA Mortgage Applications
EIA Petroleum Status Report

Thursday
Jobless Claims
Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index
Janet Yellen Speaks

Friday
Retail Sales
Consumer Sentiment
Baker-Hughes Rig Count

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