Top 5 Things to Know in the Market on Thursday
Investing.com - Here are the top five things you need to know in financial markets on Thursday, March 21:
1. Futures point to subdued open, Treasury yields hit 1-year low after Fed pivot
The Federal Reserve took a 2019 rate hike off the table on Wednesday and released details of a plan to end the monthly reduction of its balance sheet. The decision was a marked about-face from its prior December forecasts to raise interest rates twice this year.
Although U.S. stocks turned positive after the decision, financial stocks dragged on the market due to their sensitivity to low interest rates, leaving the Dow lower at the close.
The market's cautious stance continued to reign on Thursday with U.S. futures stuck around the unchanged mark. At 5:41 AM ET (9:41 GMT), the blue-chip Dow futures fell 22 points, or 0.1%, S&P 500 futures dropped 1 point, or 0.1%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures edged forward 5 points, or 0.1%.
10-year Treasury yields reacted most to the change in policy stance, dropping as far as 2.51%, their lowest level since January 2018.
The U.S. dollar initially fell over half a percent in reaction to the Fed’s decision but recovered during Asian market hours as worries over a disorderly Brexit took its toll on sterling.
2. U.S.-China trade talks progress without progress
U.S. President Trump warned on Wednesday that he will keep tariffs on China in place until he is sure that Beijing is complying with the terms of any trade agreement.
Overnight, however, China sounded more positive on trade developments, confirming that high-level talks will continue next week.
The Chinese commerce ministry said that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will travel to Beijing on March 28-29, while China’s Vice Premier Liu He will then travel to Washington in early April.
3. EU preps for decision on Brexit extension
With the current March 29 deadline for the U.K. to depart the European Union running down to the wire, British Prime Minister Theresa May is scheduled to meet with the bloc's 27 other heads of government at the EU summit at 10:00 AM ET (14:00 GMT).
May is currently seeking an extension until June 30 to work further on a withdrawal agreement.
However, the other member states must all approve such an extension. Reports suggest that they will only allow the deadline to be pushed back to May 22, the day before elections to the European Parliament.
4. Oil holds above $60 despite profit-taking
Oil prices slipped back from 2019 highs but U.S. crude remained above the $60 level it breached a day earlier for the first time since November.
U.S. crude oil futures fell 12 cents, or 0.20%, to $60.11 by 5:46 AM ET (9:46 GMT), while Brent oil traded down 3 cents to $68.47.
Despite profit-taking on Thursday, WTI is still up more than 5% this month and has skyrocketed more than 30% in 2019 on support from production cuts from OPEC and its allies led by Russia.
U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela have also served to support oil prices, while last week saw the largest decline in U.S. stockpiles since July, giving further evidence that the market is responding to a tightening of supply.
Read more: Will Oil Prices Rise Or Fall From Here? Market Weighs 2 Competing Arguments - Ellen R. Wald
5. Nike Profit Seen Rising
The big earnings report on Thursday comes after the close when the athletic shoe, apparel and equipment maker Nike (NYSE:NKE) reports fiscal third-quarter earnings.
Nike is expected to report 64 cents a share in earnings for the quarter, down from 68 cents a year ago, according to analysts polled by Investing.com. Revenue for the Dow component is expected at $9.58 billion, up 6.7% from a year ago. The stock, up more than 16% this year, has been the sixth-best Dow performer in 2019.
Related Articles
Kamala Harris courts unions, minorities with call to raise teacher pay
U.S. House to vote on overriding Trump veto of resolution ending border emergency
