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.
Fed’s Powell leaves investors with a cloud of uncertainty. Why the U.S. stock market faces a difficult week ahead.
The U.S. stock market recovered from a three-week losing streak this week, though the release of Nvidia’s...
The U.S. stock market recovered from a three-week losing streak this week, though the release of Nvidia’s earnings and a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium provided some volatility, the artificial intelligence boom offset rising bond yields.
Next week, the July personal consumption expenditure index, the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, and the latest monthly employment report will offer another trial for the markets as investors assess whether stocks can defend their recent gains under the “cloudy skies” of uncertainty over the economic outlook.
With the second-quarter earnings reporting season coming to an end, major economic data in the coming days will provide some guidance on the resilience of the U.S. economy and whether the Fed will raise interest rates further at its September 19-20 policy meeting.