Dow ends up 200 points, stocks score back-to-back gains
U.S. stocks scored back-to-back gains on Monday in an attempt...
U.S. stocks scored back-to-back gains on Monday in an attempt to claw back ground in a rough August for equities. The Dow Jones Industrial AverageDJIA rose about 213 points, or 0.6%, ending near 34,560. The S&P 500 IndexSPX closed 0.6% higher and the Nasdaq Composite IndexCOMP gained 0.8%.
Investors kicked off the final week of August on an upbeat note, while largely focusing on Thursday’s inflation data and Friday’s monthly jobs report to help inform the Federal Reserve’s path on interest rates and its inflation fight. The 10-year Treasury yield TMUBMUSD10Y eased back to about 4.20% late Monday after its sharp rise a week ago to its highest level since 2007. The Dow still was off about 2.8% so far in August, while the S&P 500 index was 3.4% lower and the Nasdaq was down 4.5%.
The energy sector is off to a higher start, supported by strength...
The energy sector is off to a higher start, supported by strength in the major equity futures which are kicking off the final trading week of August ahead of key inflation data this week.
WTI and Brent crude oil futures are steady as investors keep an eye out for Tropical Storm Idalia and assess whether China’s measures to stimulate their economy is enough to fuel demand. Earlier today, China halved the stamp duty on stock trading in an attempt to boost investor confidence. Additionally, S&P Global reports that the nation has also issued new product export quotas in an effort to bolster industrial activity. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to strengthen into a hurricane today and reach the Florida coast on Wednesday which could pose a risk to oil and gas output in the U.S. Gulf. A stronger dollar and the prospect of further interest rate hikes are also dampening investor sentiment.
Natural gas futures are higher on forecasts for warmer weather and pending supply disruptions from Australia LNG strikes which are set to begin on September 7th.
Record sea surface temperatures have prompted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to...
Record sea surface temperatures have prompted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to upgrade its 2023 Atlantic hurricane season outlook to above-normal levels. Commodity prices and Gulf of Mexico oil and gas production have generally been resilient to powerful storms, but a depleted Strategic Petroleum Reserve could hinder the government's response to supply and pricing disruptions, according to Enverus Intelligence Research.
The US Open begins today: Tennis hits the bright...
The US Open begins today:Tennis hits the bright lights of NYC for its final major of the year. With Serena Williams and Roger Federer retired, the budding rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic has become the most gripping storyline in the sport. Plus, American Coco Gauff is playing lights-out. See you in Queens.
A high-stakes US trip to China:CommerceSecretary Gina Raimondo flew to China over the weekend for a four-day trip. While there, she’ll try to strike the tricky balance between promoting US–China business ties and defending widespread trade restrictions her department has slapped on China in the name of national security. Fun fact: Raimondo started the first venture capital fund in Rhode Island before becoming the state’s governor.
Jobs, inflation in focus: Jerome Powell will be poring over fresh inflation data (Thursday) and the August jobs report (Friday) to guide his next interest rate move. Earnings season is all but over, but a few companies, including Salesforce, Lululemon, and Dollar General, still have to report.