U.S. stocks rose on Friday morning following PCE data. The Fed's preferred inflation indicator, the personal consumption expenditures index (PCE), rose 0.3% in March, which was below estimates of a 0.5% increase and matched the increase in February. Core PCE also rose 0.3%, which was steady from last month and in line with estimates. The latest readings bring the annual rate for headline PCE to 2.7%, up from 2.5% in February, and core PCE to 2.8%, which was unchanged from last month. The Dow was down 0.4%, the S&P 500 fell 1.1% and the Nasdaq lost 2.1%. Crude oil is trading near $84 per barrel and gold is up $5 to $2348 per ounce.

Despite April Stumble, Positive Stock-Market Outlook for 2024

U.S. stocks turned lower on Wednesday morning as investors digest new earnings reports. As interest rates are expected to remain elevated for some time, subdued consumer demand could persist. Orders for durable goods rose 2.6% in March, up from revised 0.7% increase in February and in line with estimates. Excluding transportation, orders ticked up 0.2% as a 30.6% increase in nondefense aircraft and parts led the increase. Orders for motor vehicles and parts also saw an increase (+2.1%), while orders slipped for computers and related products (-3.9%) and primary metals (-0.5%). Shares of Tesla (TSLA) popped despite the company missing estimates for earnings and sales and logged a drop in production and vehicle deliveries in the latest quarter. Plans to reintroduce a more-affordable EV. The Dow was down 0.4%, the S&P 500 fell 0.4% and the Nasdaq lost 0.3%. Crude oil is trading above $82 per barrel and gold fell $5 to $2337 per ounce.

U.S. stocks were higher on Tuesday morning following a number of positive earnings reports. On the housing front, new home sales for March rose to a seasonally adjusted rate of 693,000, above expectations for 669,000. Spotify Technology (SPOT) is up 14% after reporting above-consensus results and gross margin improvement. The Dow was up 0.5%, the S&P 500 rose 0.96% and the Nasdaq gained 1.4%. Crude oil is trading above $82 per barrel and gold fell $11 to $2334 per ounce.

U.S. stocks rose on Monday morning following last week's selloff. On the economic calendar this week are flash PMI readings for April on Tuesday, durable goods orders on Wednesday, U.S. 1Q GDP and pending home sales on Thursday, and consumer sentiment on Friday. Tesla shares are down ahead of its quarterly earnings tomorrow on news that the company cut prices by up to $2000 on several of its vehicles. The Dow was up 0.4%, the S&P 500 rose 0.5% and the Nasdaq gained 0.6%. Crude oil is trading above $83 per barrel and gold fell $64 to $2349 per ounce.

U.S. stocks were mixed on Friday morning following Israel's limited retaliatory strike against Iran. American Express (AXP) topped 1Q estimates and rose 4%. Meanwhile, Netflix (NFLX) shares are down sharply, despite the company easily beating expectations in the latest quarter and providing strong guidance. In a significant deviation from past practices, the company has decided to stop reporting subscriber numbers or average revenue per member, which is causing concerns among investors that the absence of these key metrics could point to stagnating growth. The Dow was up 0.4%, the S&P 500 fell 0.4% and the Nasdaq lost 1.1%. Crude oil is trading above $83 per barrel and gold rose $12 to $2410 per ounce.

U.S. stocks were higher on Thursday morning. Initial jobless claims were 212,000 for the latest week, unchanged from the previous-week's revised level. Ongoing unemployment was 1,812,000, virtually unchanged from the previous week. The Dow was up 0.5%, the S&P 500 rose 0.4% and the Nasdaq gained 0.3%. Crude oil is trading above $82 per barrel and gold rose $9 to $2397 per ounce.

U.S. stocks were down on Wednesday following Chairman Powell's speech yesterday. He noted current monetary policy could be maintained until inflation shows more downward progress. Investors are now looking at September for the first rate cut according to CME's FedWatch tool, and are split as to whether or not there will be just one or two rate cuts this year - a significant departure from last year when markets had anticipated five rate cuts in 2024. The Dow was down 0.3%, the S&P 500 fell 0.4% and the Nasdaq lost 0.6%. Crude oil is trading near above $84 per barrel and gold fell $6 to $2401 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Tuesday morning as investors digested earning reports. Starts of residential units fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,321,000 in March, a 14.7% decline from February's revised rate and well short of expectations. Building permits issued also slipped to an annualized 1,458,000, a 4.3% decline from February and also short of expectations. Housing starts declined in all regions with the exception of the West, which rose 7.1%. Building permits issued were flat for units of five or more homes per building, while declining 10.3% for buildings of two to four units, and 5.7% for single-family homes. Regionally, permits issued fell in the Northeast (-20.8%), Midwest (-14.7%), and South (-0.6%), while growing in the West (+5.1%). The Dow was up 0.4%, while the S&P 500 was flat and the Nasdaq rose 0.1%. Crude oil is trading near above $85 per barrel and gold rose $22 to $2405 per ounce.

Stocks are up at midday trading on Monday following a volatile week. The 10-year Treasury yields are the highest since November on the heels of strong retail sales data. U.S. retail sales were above expectations, rising 0.7% in March. This follows an upwardly revised 0.9% increase in February. Sales excluding automobiles were up 1.1%, and excluding gasoline were up 0.6%. Among the advancing sales categories were gasoline stations (+2.1%), general merchandise (+1.1%) and building material & garden stores (+0.7%). Among the declining sales categories were sporting goods, hobby, music & bookstores (-1.8%), clothing (-1.6%) and electronic & appliances (-1.2%).The Dow was up 0.5%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.4% and the Nasdaq rose 0.1%. Crude oil is trading near above $84 per barrel and gold fell $6 to $2368 per ounce.

Stocks are up at midday trading on Monday following a volatile week. The 10-year Treasury yields are the highest since November on the heels of strong retail sales data. U.S. retail sales were above expectations, rising 0.7% in March. This follows an upwardly revised 0.9% increase in February. Sales excluding automobiles were up 1.1%, and excluding gasoline were up 0.6%. Among the advancing sales categories were gasoline stations (+2.1%), general merchandise (+1.1%) and building material & garden stores (+0.7%). Among the declining sales categories were sporting goods, hobby, music & bookstores (-1.8%), clothing (-1.6%) and electronic & appliances (-1.2%).The Dow was up 0.5%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.4% and the Nasdaq rose 0.1%. Crude oil is trading near above $84 per barrel and gold fell $6 to $2368 per ounce.

Stock markets were down on Friday morning amid the kick-off of earnings by big banks. JPMorgan Chase is down 5% despite above-consensus results. However, net interest income decline sequentially and CEO Dimon noted a number of 'significant uncertain forces' due to inflationary pressures and geopolitical tensions. The Dow was down 0.8%, while the S&P 500 lost 1.0% and the Nasdaq fell 1.1%. Oil prices are on the rise amid increasing tensions in the Middle East. Israel has reportedly started preparations for a direct attack expected by Iran this weekend in response to the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria last week. Crude oil is trading near $87 per barrel and gold rose $35 to $2408 per ounce.

Stock markets were mixed on Thursday morning following a slightly better-than-expected PPI reading. In March, U.S. headline PPI rose 0.2% after increasing 0.6% in February and 0.4% in January. Prices for final demand services advanced 0.3%, while goods prices declined 0.1%. This brings annual PPI to 2.1%, up from 1.6% last month. Core PPI rose 0.2% after advancing 0.3% in February. The annual core PPI rate now stands at 2.8%, up from 2.7% in February. Leading the increase in services was the index for securities brokerage and investment-related services, which rose 3.1% -- while prices for traveler accommodation services declined 3.8%. A major factor in the decrease for final demand goods was energy, which decreased 1.6% -- while food prices advanced 0.8%, led by a 10.7% increase for processed poultry. The Dow was down 0.4%, while the S&P 500 was flat and the Nasdaq was up 0.5%. Crude oil traded above $85 per barrel and gold rose $12 to $2360 per ounce.

Stock markets were down on Wednesday morning following hotter-than-expected CPI data. Headline CPI rose 0.4% in March, matching the increase in February and above expectations for a slight decline. This latest reading brings annual CPI to 3.5%, up from 3.2% last month. Core CPI also rose 0.4%, which matched February's increase and also was ahead of estimates. Annual core CPI now stands at 3.8%, unchanged from February. The shelter and energy components rose in March and contributed over half of the increase in CPI. Food prices inched up 0.1%, while energy rose a more-modest 1.1%, down from the 2.3% increase last month. New vehicle prices declined 0.2%, a sharper decline than the 0.1% decrease last month. Shelter costs advanced 0.4%, matching the increase in February. The Dow was down 1.3%, the S&P 500 fell 1.1% and the Nasdaq lost 1.0%. Crude oil traded above $85 per barrel and gold fell $7 to $2355 per ounce.

Stock markets were down on Tuesday morning ahead of the next read on inflation due out Wednesday morning via CPI and the unofficial start of earnings season, with big banks J.P. Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup reporting. The Dow was down 0.3% and the S&P 500 fell .2%, while and the Nasdaq lost 0.04%. Crude oil traded just above $85 per barrel and gold rose $13 to $2364 per ounce.

Stock markets were mixed on Monday morning ahead of the next read on inflation due out Wednesday morning via CPI. Expectations are for both headline and core CPI to rise a more-modest 0.3% from the 0.4% increase in February, for annual CPI to tick up to 3.5% from 3.2%, and core CPI to decrease to 3.7% from 3.8% last month. This week also marks the unofficial start of earnings season, with big banks J.P. Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup reporting. The Dow and the S&P 500 were nearly flat, while and the Nasdaq gained 0.1%. Crude oil traded just above $86 per barrel and gold rose $4 to $2349 per ounce.

Stocks lost earlier gains on comments from Minneapolis Fed Reserve President Kashkari and geopolitical concerns. Mr. Kashkari noted that he expects two interest rate cuts this year, but if it possible depending on if inflation moves sideways that there will be no cuts this year. Every sector was in the red at market close. In other news, Iran has threatened to retaliate on an Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate building in Syria. The S&P 500 closed 1.2% lower, the Dow declined 1.4% and the Nasdaq lost 1.4%. Crude oil traded above $86 per barrel and gold fell $11 to $2304 per ounce.

Stocks rose on Thursday as investors digested new data. Initial jobless claims were 221,000 for the week ending March 30, up from last week's revised 212,000 and above expectations. Ongoing unemployment declined to 1,791,000 from the previous week's revised 1,810,000. The U.S. trade deficit was $68.9 billion in February, an increase of 1.9% from January. Exports of goods increased $5.0 billion, led by aircraft (+$1.4 billion) and crude oil (+$1.1 billion), while exports of passenger vehicles declined $0.9 billion. Imports of goods rose $4.7 billion, led by cell phones and household goods (+1.4 billion) foods, feeds and beverages ($1.3 billion), and automobiles and parts (+1.1 billion). The Dow was up 0.4%, the S&P 500 rose 0.7% and the Nasdaq gained 0.9%. Crude oil traded above $85 per barrel, while gold traded near $2313 per ounce.

Stocks rose on Thursday as investors digested new data. Initial jobless claims were 221,000 for the week ending March 30, up from last week's revised 212,000 and above expectations. Ongoing unemployment declined to 1,791,000 from the previous week's revised 1,810,000. The U.S. trade deficit was $68.9 billion in February, an increase of 1.9% from January. Exports of goods increased $5.0 billion, led by aircraft (+$1.4 billion) and crude oil (+$1.1 billion), while exports of passenger vehicles declined $0.9 billion. Imports of goods rose $4.7 billion, led by cell phones and household goods (+1.4 billion) foods, feeds and beverages ($1.3 billion), and automobiles and parts (+1.1 billion). The Dow was up 0.4%, the S&P 500 rose 0.7% and the Nasdaq gained 0.9%. Crude oil traded above $85 per barrel, while gold traded near $2313 per ounce.

Markets moved higher on Wednesday morning on ISM data. Services PMI increased to 51.4% in March. Prices paid hit the lowest level since March 2020. The focus will now be on Fed Chair Powell, who will speak later today. Treasury yields are rising. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, the Dow was up less than 0.1% and the Nasdaq gained 0.3%. Crude oil traded above $85 per barrel and gold was up $23 to $2305 per ounce.

Stocks were down for a second day on Tuesday morning. The Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that job openings were nearly flat in February, at 8.76 million. Health insurance stocks fell after the federal government announced there will be no increase to Medicare Advantage rates for 2025. The Commerce Department's Census Bureau said that factory orders increased 1.4%, after dropping 3.8% in January. Treasury yields are rising. The S&P 500 fell 0.9%, the Dow dropped 1.1% and the Nasdaq lost 1.2%. Crude oil traded above $85 per barrel and gold was up $18 to $2275 per ounce.

Stocks are under pressure Monday morning. The Commerce Department reported that construction spending for February dropped 0.3%, below expectations. The ISM index moved above 50%, to 50.3%, for the first time since October 2022. The S&P 500 fell 0.4%, the Dow dropped 0.7% and the Nasdaq lost 0.3%. Crude oil traded above $84 per barrel and gold was up $20 to $2259 per ounce.

Stocks were flat to slightly higher on Thursday morning, the final trading day of the first quarter. This week's initial jobless claims were 210,000, down from a revised 212,000 last week. Ongoing unemployment was 1,819,000, an increase of 24,000 from the previous week's revised level. The third estimate of Q4 U.S. GDP came in at 3.4%, an increase of 0.2% from the prior estimate. The change reflects upward revisions to consumer spending and nonresidential fixed investment that more than offset a downward revision to private inventories. The S&P 500 rose 0.1%, while the Dow and the Nasdaq were both nearly flat. Crude oil traded above $82 per barrel and gold was up $21 to $2234 per ounce.

Stocks were mostly higher on Wednesday morning after a three-day losing streak ahead of Friday's PCE reading. Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) is up 15%, while GameStop is down 15% after reporting disappointing 4Q results. The S&P 500 rose 0.2%, the Dow was up 0.6% and the Nasdaq lost 0.2%. Crude oil traded below $82 per barrel and gold was up $12 to $2211 per ounce.

All of the major U.S. stock indices are higher at midday on Tuesday, albeit modestly so. Investors are mulling over some fresh economic data in the form of durable goods orders and consumer confidence. Orders for durable goods rebounded in February, up 1.4% on the back of increases in transportation equipment and machinery orders. Turning to consumer confidence, The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index for March printed at 104.7 compared to a revised 104.8 in February. But the so-called 'expectations index' dropped to 73.8 from 76.3 a month ago. That suggests that consumers are less optimistic in the short term. Crude oil has turned slightly lower as of midday, while gold is essentially on a flat line.

Stocks were slightly down on Monday morning ahead of the holiday shortened week. This week brings new data on inflation, GDP, housing, durable goods, consumer confidence, personal spending, and personal income. In other news, Boeing (BA) CEO Calhoun announced his resignation without naming a successor. Apple (AAPL), Meta Platforms (META) and Alphabet (GOOGL) are being investigated by the EU for anticompetitive behavior. The S&P 500 fell 0.2%, the Dow was down 0.3% and the Nasdaq lost 0.1%. Crude oil traded near $82 per barrel and gold was up $16 to $2176 per ounce.

U.S. markets were mixed on Friday morning, but are still on track for gains for the week. On the earnings front, FedEx (FDX) rose 7% on an earnings beat, while Nike (NKE) was down about 7% on a weak outlook. The Dow was down 0.5%, the S&P 500 fell 0.1% and the Nasdaq gained less than 0.1%. Crude oil traded above $80 per barrel, while gold fell $16 to $2169 per ounce.

U.S. markets rose on Thursday morning, extending yesterday's gains, following the Fed's rate decision and commentary by Chairman Powell. Leading into the meeting, investors were focused on the dot plot, which in December forecast three rate cuts this year. Yesterday's chart also included an estimated three rate cuts. Dovish commentary by Fed Chair Powell, who indicated that current rates were likely at their peak for the current cycle, resonated with investors. Almost 70% of investors are now looking for the first rate cut in June. On the employment front, initial jobless claims were 210,000 for the week, down 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. Ongoing unemployment was 1,807,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level. In other news, the Justice Department filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Apple (AAPL). The Dow was up 0.8%, the S&P 500 rose 0.6% and the Nasdaq gained 0.7%. Crude oil traded above $80 per barrel, while gold rose $12 to $2173 per ounce.

With the Fed's rate decision due out this afternoon, markets are mostly holding. While chances of a rate cut out of this meeting are virtually non-existent, all eyes will be on the "dot plot" of rate expectations from FOMC members (which is updated quarterly). The last update in December anticipated three rate cuts this year. Recently, inflation has been a little hotter than expected, and that may impact rate projections from the committee. Crude oil traded above $81 per barrel, while gold traded near $2160 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Tuesday morning as investors await results from the Federal Reserve policy meeting. On the housing front, in February, housing starts rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.52 million. This up from the revised 1.37 million in January and above expectations of 1.43 million. Building permits issued were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.52 million, up from January's revised 1.49 million. The Dow rose 0.6%, the S&P 500 was nearly flat and the Nasdaq lost 0.3%. Crude oil traded above $83 per barrel, while gold fell $7 to $2157 per ounce.

U.S. stocks were rallied on Monday morning led by tech stocks as investors await the Fed's decision as to whether there will be three rate cuts in 2024. Treasury yields are edging higher. The Dow rose 0.4%, the S&P 500 was up 0.9%, and the Nasdaq gained 1.2%. Crude oil traded above $82 per barrel, while gold traded above $2162 per ounce.

Stocks pulled back on Friday morning as investors digested inflation data released this week and ahead of the Fed's policy decision next week. The Labor Department reported that U.S. import prices rose 0.3% in February, matching expectations and down from a 0.8% increase in January. Export prices rose 0.8% after advancing 0.9% in January. Prices for fuel imports advanced 1.8%, while nonfuel imports rose 0.2%. Meanwhile, manufacturing continued to decline. The Empire State Manufacturing Index fell to -20.9 in March from -2.4 in February and below expectations. New orders declined significantly, and employment and hours worked also fell. Input prices softened moderately, while output prices held steady. The University of Michigan consumer sentiment for the first weeks of March edged down to 76.5 from 76.9 in February. The S&P 500 fell 0.6%, the Dow was down 0.4% and the Nasdaq lost 0.9%. Crude oil traded just above $81 per barrel and gold was down $2 to $2165 per ounce.

Stocks fell on Thursday on hotter-than-expected inflation readings. In February, headline PPI rose 0.6%, up from 0.2% in January and ahead of the expected 0.3% increase -- with nearly two-thirds of the increase attributed to a rise in prices for final-demand goods. A 4.4% rise in energy prices during the month was the main factor in the increase in final-demand goods, contributing over one-third of the increase. PPI rose 0.4% in February, down from 0.6% last month but ahead of the expected 0.2% increase. U.S. retail sales in February were up 0.6%, following the 0.8% decline in January. The Dow fell 0.2%, the S&P 500 was down 0.3%, and the Nasdaq lost 0.1%. Crude oil traded above $81 per barrel, while gold fell $18 to $2162 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Wednesday intraday as investors await new inflation data. Tomorrow, retail sales and PPI releases will be closely watched to gauge consumer spending and for another read on inflation. The Dow rose 0.4%, while the S&P 500 was down 0.1%, and the Nasdaq lost 0.5%. Crude oil traded above $79 per barrel, while gold rose $15 to $2172 per ounce.

U.S. stocks were higher on Tuesday morning following the release of hotter-than-expected inflation data In February, headline CPI-U rose 0.4%, matching expectations and up from 0.3% last month. This brings the annual inflation rate to 3.2%, up from 3.1% last month. Core CPI rose 0.4%, matching the prior month but ahead of expectations for the second straight month, bringing annual core-CPI to 3.8%, down from 3.9% last month. Over 60% of the monthly increase for headline CPI was from the shelter and energy components. Investors still expect the first rate cut will be in June. The Dow rose 0.7%, the S&P 500 was up 1.0%, and the Nasdaq gained 1.4%. Crude oil traded above $78 per barrel, while gold fell $22 to $2167 per ounce.

U.S. stocks were lower on Monday morning as investors await key inflation data (CPI) on Tuesday. Expectations are for headline CPI to tick up sequentially to 0.4% from 0.3% last month, leaving the annual rate unchanged at 3.1%. Core CPI is expected to increase at 0.3%, down from 0.4% -- which will bring annual core CPI to 3.7%, down from 3.9% last month. The Dow fell 0.3%, the S&P 500 was down 0.4%, and the Nasdaq lost 0.4%. Crude oil traded near $78 per barrel, while gold rose $4 to $2189 per ounce.

U.S. stocks were mixed intraday on Friday as investors digested new economic data. In February, total nonfarm payrolls rose 275,000 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report. This was higher than the expected 198,000, and higher than last month's 229,000 (revised down from 353,000). While a hotter-than-expected jobs reading initially sparked a sell-off, the rise in unemployment on the next line of the report led stocks to bounce back. The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9% in February, rising 0.2% from the month prior. In February, total nonfarm payrolls rose 275,000 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report. This was higher than the expected 198,000, and higher than last month's 229,000 (revised down from 353,000). The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9% in February, rising 0.2% from the month prior.

U.S. stocks rose on Thursday morning as investors digested new economic data. Last week's initial jobless claims were 217,000, unchanged from the prior week's revised level. Ongoing unemployment was 1,906,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's re-vised level. That leaves the insured unemployment rate at 1.3%. The international trade deficit widened to 67.4 billion in January according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Exports inched up by $0.3 billion, with automobiles and parts exports rising $1.4 billion while industrial supplies and material exports fell $1.7 billion. The S&P 500 rose 0.9%, the Dow 0.3% and the Nasdaq gained 1.4%. Crude oil traded just above $79 per barrel, while gold rose $7 to $2165 per ounce.

Stocks were higher on Wednesday, recovering from Tuesday's losses. Fed Chair Powell said that interest rate cuts are likely at some point in 2024. He noted that he does not expect the U.S. to fall into a recession. Economic data released today included ADP's National Employment Report, which showed private employment grew by 140,000 in February, up from 107,000 in January but below estimates of 150,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were 8.86 million job openings in January, down from 8.89 million in December but above expectations for 8.85 million. The Dow rose 0.6%, the S&P 0.8%, and the Nasdaq 0.8%. Crude oil traded above $80 per barrel, while gold rose $13 to $21535 per ounce.

Stocks fell on Tuesday pulled down by the mega-cap stocks and uncertainty over interest rate cuts. Economic data released today included factory orders for January and the ISM Services PMI for February. According to the Commerce Department, factory orders fell 3.6% in January following a 0.3% decline in December. The ISM Services PMI reading for February came to 52.6%, down from 53.4% in January and below the 53% forecast. Meanwhile, Bitcoin has hit a record high. The Dow fell 0.8%, the S&P 1.0%, and the Nasdaq 1.8%. Crude oil traded near $79 per barrel, while gold rose $9 to $2135 per ounce.

Stocks were lower Monday morning ahead of this week's release of ADP's private employment data and job openings as well as Fed Powell's testimony to Congress. The Dow fell 0.3%, the S&P 0.1%, and the Nasdaq 0.2%. Crude oil traded near $79 per barrel, while gold rose $22 to $2118 per ounce.

Stocks are up following yesterday's PCE inflation reading. Shares of Dell Technologies (DELL) popped after the company's latest quarter came in ahead of expectations, boosted by AI-server demand that is currently exceeding supply. Spirit Aerosystems (SPR) is up on news that Boeing (BA) is in talks to acquire SPR. The S&P 500 is up 0.5%, the Nasdaq rose 0.7% and the Dow is us less than 0.1%. Crude oil is trading above $80 per barrel and gold is up $32 to $2087 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Thursday after core PCE came in as expected. Prices rose 0.3% in January, bringing annual inflation to 2.4% -- down from 2.6% last month. Core PCE rose 0.4%, which brings the annual rate to 2.8%, down from 2.9% last month. Prices for services increased 0.6%, while goods prices decreased 0.2% and energy prices fell 1.4% from December. Initial jobless claims rose by 13,000 to 215,000 for the week ended February 24. The S&P 500 was up 0.1%, the Dow fell 0.2% and the Nasdaq gained 0.3%. Crude oil traded near $79 per barrel and gold was up $11 to $2053 per ounce.

Stocks were modestly lower on Wednesday morning after revised GDP data. The second estimate of U.S. GDP was revised down to 3.2% from the advance estimate of 3.3%. The update reflects upward revisions in state and local government spending and consumer spending, which were more than offset by a reduction in private inventory investment. The S&P 500 was down less than 0.1%, the Dow fell 0.2% and the Nasdaq lost 0.3%. Crude oil traded just above $78 per barrel and gold was down $2 to $2042 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Tuesday morning as investors digested new economic data. New orders for durable goods fell 6.1% in January, according to today's U.S. Census Bureau data, with a 16.2% drop in transportation equipment orders leading the decline. Excluding defense, orders fell 7.3% and excluding transportation new orders slipped 0.3%. The Confidence Board said that its consumer confidence index fell to 106.7, which was lower than the downwardly revised 110.9 in January. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index reported a 5.5% annual gain in December, up from a 5.0% rise in the previous month. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city house price index rose 0.2% in December compared to the previous month. Home prices in the 20 major U.S. metro markets were up 6.1%. The S&P 500 was down less than 0.1%, the Dow fell 0.4% and the Nasdaq was up 0.1%. Crude oil traded above $78 per barrel and gold was up $5 to $2044 per ounce.

U.S. markets held steady intraday Monday following record highs last week. Amazon.com replaced Walgreens Boots Alliance in the 30-stock Dow. New home sales in January 2024 rose 1.5% from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 661,000 units. The median sales price was $420,700 and the average sales price was $534,300. The Nasdaq rose 0.2%, the S&P 500 fell less than 0.01% and the Dow was unchanged. Crude oil rose $1 to $77 per barrel, while gold fell $12 to $2038 per ounce.

U.S. markets were mixed on Friday intraday following yesterday's rally. Recent comments from Fed officials indicate that the timing of the first interest rate is likely to come later rather than sooner. On the earnings front, shares of Carvana (CVNA) are up 33% after reported its first profitable year. The Nasdaq fell 0.1%, the S&P 500 was up 0.13% and the Dow gained 0.3%. Crude oil fell $2 to $76.55 per barrel, while gold rose $17 to $2048 per ounce.

U.S. markets rallied on Thursday morning on stellar Nvidia results. On the housing front, existing home sales rose 3.1% to an annual rate of 4 million, this up from 3.8 million in December. The median home sales price was $379,100, 5.1% higher than a year ago, but down from $381,400 in December. As for economic trends, S&P Global's flash readings for February's PMI show expansion in both services and manufacturing. Services activity slowed to 51.3, down from 52.5 in January, but remained in expansion territory. Manufacturing PMI expanded more quickly in February with a reading of 51.7, up from 50.7 in January. The tech heavy Nasdaq rose 2.6%, the S&P 500 was up $1.8% and the Dow gained 0.8%

Stocks are trading lower on Wednesday morning ahead of the release of the Federal Reserve minutes. Turning to stocks, shares of Nvidia (NVDA) are down today, with the company reporting earnings today after market close. The S&P 500 fell 0.1%, the Dow was down $0.2% and the Nasdaq lost 0.5%. Crude oil traded near $77.50 per barrel, while gold fell nearly $4 to $2036 per ounce.

Stocks are trading lower on Tuesday morning on some weaker-than-expected economic data as well as growing concerns that AI-related stocks are overbought at this juncture. Specifically, the Conference Board's Leading Economic Index slipped 0.4% in January and was lower than the expected 0.3% drop. The index was down 3.0% over the past six months -- a narrower decline than the preceding six-month period, which fell by 4.1%. Still, with six of the 10 index components being positive over the past six-month period, the index no longer is signaling a recession ahead. Turning to stocks, shares of Nvidia (NVDA) are down today, with the company reporting earnings tomorrow after market close. Despite expectations for positive earnings results, the selloff indicates many investors may be concerned that the shares are due for a pullback following an impressive run this year (which saw shares rise over 50% to an all-time high set last week). Shares of other tech companies which also saw strong gains related to AI prospects are trading lower on overvaluation concerns, including Arm Holdings (ARM), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Super Micro Computer (SMCI).

U.S. stocks were lower on Friday morning following higher-than-expected inflation numbers, which lowers expectations for a rate cut in the near term. The Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 0.3%. Core PPI rose 0.6%, the largest increase since January 2023, with both readings well ahead of their expected 0.1% increase. The latest readings bring annual PPI to 0.9% and core PPI to 2.6%. On the earnings front, Coinbase Global (COIN) shares rose 15% after it reported a profit. The S&P 500 was nearly flat, up 0.01%, the Dow was down less than 0.1% and the Nasdaq fell 0.2%. Crude oil traded above $78 per barrel and gold was up 0.3% to $2021 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Thursday intraday as investors digested new economic data. U.S. retail & food services sales fell 0.8% in January from December, but were up 0.6% from a year ago. That was below estimates for a 0.2% decline in sales. Excluding automobiles, sales were down 0.6%, and excluding gas, down 0.8%. Initial jobless claims for the week were 212,000, down from the previous week's revised 220,000. Ongoing unemployment increased 30,000 to 1,895,000, which pushed the insured unemployment rate up to 1.3%. The Dow rose 0.5%, the S&P 500 was up 0.02%, while the Nasdaq lost 0.2%. Crude oil traded just above $78 per barrel and gold was up $6 to $2010 per ounce.

Stocks bounced back on Wednesday from yesterday's inflation fueled sell-off. Chicago Fed President Goolsbee noted that 'Even if inflation comes in a bit higher for a few months...it would still be consistent with our path back to target.' The Dow was up 0.1%, the S&P rose 0.4%, and the Nasdaq gained 0.7%. Crude oil fell slightly to $77.50 per barrel, while gold fell $2 to $2005 per ounce.

U.S. stocks fell on the CPI report that showed hotter-than-expected inflation data. Headline CPI rose 0.3% in January, up from 0.2% in December and above the consensus estimate of a 0.2% increase. Core CPI rose 0.4%, up from last month's 0.3% increase. These latest readings bring the annual rate of headline CPI to 3.1% and core CPI to 3.4%, down from 3.4% and 3.9%, respectively. The S&P 500 fell 1.1%, the Dow 1.1% and the Nasdaq lost 1.3%. Crude oil traded near $78 per barrel and gold fell $26 to $2007 per ounce.

Stocks edged up on Monday ahead of a collection of economic data that will be released this week, including inflation, retail sales and housing data. The Dow rose 0.5%, the S&P 500 was up 0.4%, and the Nasdaq gained 0.5%. Crude oil is trading little changed near $77 per barrel. Gold fell $10 to $2028 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Friday morning following the Labor Department's revision to the inflation data. After seasonal revisions to CPI, December's reading was revised down to 0.2% from the prior 0.3% increase. November's CPI was revised up from a 0.1% increase to 0.2% after the adjustment. The seasonal adjustments are made annually, coinciding with January's CPI release, to account for price movements in the previous year. The S&P 500 gained 0.2% and in intraday trading the index was above 5,000. The Dow is down $0.3% and the Nasdaq is up 0.9%. Crude oil is trading above $76 per barrel, while gold lost $10 to trade near $2038.

Stocks were mixed on Thursday morning following new economic data. For the week ending February 3, initial jobless claims were 218,000, down from the previous-week's revised 227,000. Ongoing unemployment was 1,871,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous-week's revised 1,894,000. On the earnings front, shares of Arm Holdings (ARM) are up 58% on positive 4Q earnings and forward guidance. The Walt Disney Co. (DIS) rose 12% on an earnings beat and dividend raise. The S&P 500 was trading just below the flatline, the Dow was down 0.3%, while the Nasdaq was up 0.3%. Crude oil traded near $76 per barrel and gold fell $5 to $2046 per ounce.

Stocks rose on Wednesday morning as investors digested new earnings reports and economic data. In December, the U.S. trade deficit was $62.2 billion -- an increase of 0.5%, with exports rising 1.5% to $258.2 billion and imports increasing 1.3% to 320.4 billion. The S&P 500 rose 0.7%, the Dow 0.4% and the Nasdaq was up 0.8%. Crude oil traded above $73 per barrel and gold traded at $2053 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Tuesday morning as investors digested new earnings results. Stocks in the news today include Palantir Technologies (PLTR), which gained 25% since reporting a stellar fourth quarter. BP plc (BP) shares are up following an earnings beat and plans to boost share repurchasing by $1.75 billion. The 10-year Treasury declined to 4.11%. The S&P 500 was up less than 0.01% and the Dow rose 0.2%, while the Nasdaq was down 0.1%. Crude Oil traded at $73 per barrel and gold was up $10 to $2053 per ounce.

U.S. stocks declined on Monday morning while Treasury yields climbed, as investors digested comments from Chairman Powell over the weekend and new economic data. The Institute for Supply Management's survey rose to 53.5% from 50.5% in December, but was above the consensus of 52%. The S&P Global US Services PMI for January was revised to 52.5 from a preliminary 52.9. Crude prices edged lower. The S&P 500 fell 0.6%, the Dow 1.0% and the Nasdaq was down 0.7%. Crude oil traded near $72 per barrel and gold fell $18 to $2035 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Friday morning following the January jobs report. In January, nonfarm payroll employment rose 353,000 and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7%. The jobs count is up from 216,000 in December and well ahead of the expected 185,000, and the belief had been that unemployment would inch up to 3.8%. The S&P 500 rose 0.9%, the Dow was nearly flat and the Nasdaq gained 1.5%. Crude oil traded just above $72 per barrel, while gold fell $17 to $2053 per ounce.

U.S. stocks bounced back after Wednesday's decline. However, regional banks are down following New York Community Bancorp's dismal results. Initial jobless claims for the week ending January 27 were 224,000, up 9,000 from the previous week's revised level. Ongoing unemployment was 1,898,000, an increase of 70,000 from the previous weeks revised 1,833,000. The Dow rose 0.1%, the S&P 500 was up 0.3% and the Nasdaq gained 0.4%. Crude oil traded above $76 per barrel, while gold rose $7.50 to trade near $2075 per ounce.

U.S. stocks were lower on Wednesday morning ahead of the Fed's rate decision later this afternoon. ADP's latest employment report shows 107,000 jobs were added in January, down from 164,000 in December and lower than expected. Shares of Paramount Global are up on news that billionaire Byron Allen has made a $14.3 billion takeover offer for Paramount Global. Meanwhile, Microsoft, Advanced Micro Devices and Alphabet are all trending lower after reporting fourth-quarter results. The S&P 500 is down 0.9%, the Dow 0.1%, the Nasdaq lost 1.5% and the Russell 2000 fell 0.5%. Crude oil was down 2%, while gold rose $17.50 to $2068 per ounce.

At midday, U.S. stocks are treading water as investors seemingly await big earnings news that is due out after the close, with Microsft and Alphabet both reporting. Also keeping a lid on trading is pending news from the Federal Reserve that will come on Wednesday afternoon, though it is deemed almost a certainty that interst rates will not be changed. In intraday news, GM shares are solidly higher after the company easily beat expectatiosn for both sales and revenue. As of this writing, the S&P 500 is essentially unchanged, the Dow is slightly higher, and the Nasdaq and Rusell 2000 are both slightly lower. Crude oil and gold are both up, at about 1.2% and 0.35%, respectively.

Stocks are little-changed on Monday morning. While this week is full of major earnings report, Fed news, and significant economic data, investors appear to be in 'wait and see' mode for now -- with the biggest events still to come on Tuesday (earnings), Wednesday (Fed), Thursday (earnings again), and Friday (employment). Tension in the Middle East is also on the rise, likely adding to hesitation on the part of traders. As of this writing, the major stock indices are in a tight range between off 0.04% and up 0.30%. Crude oil is lower by about 1.15%, while gold is up about 0.35%.

Stocks are higher at midday, this after weakness earlier in the session that was mostly the result of disappointing guidance from the likes of Intel and KLA Corp. That said, December's headline Personal Consumption Expenditures price index appears to have resonated with investors who seem to be increasingly of the opinion that the Fed has indeed set the stage for a soft landing of the U.S. economy. PCE rose 0.2%, following a 0.1% decline in November and leaving annual PCE unchanged at 2.6%. Core PCE also rose 0.2%, up from 0.1% in November and bringing the annual rate to 2.9% from 3.0% last month. Elsewhere, Personal Spending rose 0.7%, which was higher than the expected increase of 0.5%. Personal Income drifted lower, rising 0.3% to match expectations but down from 0.4% in November. As well, solid earnings from American Express and Colgate-Palmolive are adding to a positive mood as the trading week draws to a close.

Stocks edged higher on Thursday morning following new economic data. The advance reading of U.S. GDP came in at 3.3%, down from 4.9% in 3Q but well ahead of the expected 2%. GDP was boosted by increases in consumer spending in both goods and services. On the housing front, new home sales for the month of December rose 8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 664,000. The median sales price of new houses sold in December 2023 was $413,200. The average sales price was $487,300. The Dow rose 0.2%, the S&P 500 was up 0.5% and the Nasdaq gained 0.6%. Crude oil traded above $76 per barrel, while gold fell to $2015 per ounce.

Stocks headed higher on Wednesday morning ahead of this week's economic data. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are tracking for record highs, helped by stocks such as Netflix (NFLX), ASML Holdings (ASML) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). The Dow rose 0.3%, the S&P 500 was up 0.7% and the Nasdaq gained 1.2%. Crude oil traded above $75 per barrel, while gold fell $8 to $2018 per ounce.

Stocks were slightly down on Tuesday morning following Monday's record highs. Investors are looking to new earnings report. The Dow was down 0.5%, the S&P 500 fell 0.1% and the Nasdaq was down less than 0.1%. Crude Oil traded near $75 per barrel while gold rose to $2025 per ounce.

Stocks headed higher on Monday with the S&P 500 on track to hit another all-time high. This month's FOMC decision on January 31 is widely expected to result in uncaged interest rates, while future rate-cut expectations have become less optimistic. Turning to stocks, shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) are down sharply after the company placed the CFO on administrative leave and cut its earnings outlook while it investigates accounting practices related to its nutrition unit. The Dow rose 0.4%, the S&P 500 was up 0.3% and the Nasdaq gained 0.5%. Crude oil traded above $75 per barrel, while gold fell $4 to $2025 per ounce.

Stocks headed higher on Friday with the S&P 500 on track to hit an all-time high. Most of the magnificent seven stocks are higher. The University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey showed a 13% jump in overall sentiment during the month of January to 78.8. This was the highest since July 2021, and well above expectations for a reading of 70.1. The National Association of Realtors Existing home sales fell 1% last month from November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.7 million, its lowest sales activity since August 2010. The Dow rose 0.5%, the S&P 500 was up 0.6% and the Nasdaq gained 0.9%. Crude oil traded above $73 per barrel, while gold rose $8 to $2030 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Thursday morning following new economic data. This week's initial jobless claims were 187,000, a 16,000 decrease from the prior week's revised level. This is the lowest level since late September 2022 and short of the expected 208,000. On the housing front, residential building permits issued rose to 1.495 million in December from 1.46 million, above the expected 1.48 million, and up 6.1% from one year ago. Home starts declined to 1.46 million from 1.56 million, but was above the expected 1.43 million reading and 7.6% higher than last year. The Dow fell 0.2%, while the S&P 500 rose 0.2% and the Nasdaq was up 0.8%. Crude oil traded above $744 per barrel, while gold rose $10 to $2016 per ounce.

U. S. markets fell as Treasury yields rose on new economic data that is lowering rate-cut expectations. December retail sales grew 0.6%, above expectations for 0.4% growth. On the housing front, builder confidence rose to 44 in January due to lower mortgage results. The Dow fell less than 0.1%, the S&P 500 was down 0.6% and the Nasdaq lost 0.9%. Crude oil traded above $71 per barrel, while gold fell $16 to $2014 per ounce.

U.S. stocks were mixed on Tuesday morning following the holiday-shortened week. Wells Fargo, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley have announced new bond issues ahead of new regulatory requirements to maintain higher capital reserves. U.S. Treasury yields are up. The Dow fell 0.4%, the S&P 0.1%, while the Nasdaq was up 0.1%. Crude oil dropped to $72 per barrel, while gold fell $8 to $2043 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Friday after briefly rising following new inflation data. The PPI fell 0.1% in December, following a 0.1% decrease in November and 0.4% decrease in October. However, oil prices jumped today after the U.S. and British forces struck several Houthi targets in a move aimed at diminishing the group's capabilities in the area. On the earnings front, airline stocks are down, after Delta lowered its 2024 guidance. Bank stocks also have begun reporting. The Dow fell 0.5%, while the S&P 500 was nearly flat, and the Nasdaq was up 0.1%. Crude oil traded near $74 per barrel, while gold rose $37 to $2056 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Friday after briefly rising following new inflation data. The PPI fell 0.1% in December, following a 0.1% decrease in November and 0.4% decrease in October. However, oil prices jumped today after the U.S. and British forces struck several Houthi targets in a move aimed at diminishing the group's capabilities in the area. On the earnings front, airline stocks are down, after Delta lowered its 2024 guidance. Bank stocks also have begun reporting. The Dow fell 0.5%, while the S&P 500 was nearly flat, and the Nasdaq was up 0.1%. Crude oil traded near $74 per barrel, while gold rose $37 to $2056 per ounce.

Stocks headed lower on Thursday morning as investor digested new economic data. CPI was hotter than expected. In December, headline CPI rose 0.3%, up from 0.1% in November and ahead of the expected 0.2% increase. This brings the annual rate to 3.4%, up from 3.1% last month. Energy prices rose 0.4% and food prices rose 0.2%. Initial jobless claims were 202,000 this week, falling 1,000 from the previous week's revised level and the lowest since mid-October. Ongoing unemployment was 1,834,000, down 34,000 from the prior week. In other news, eleven bitcoin ETFs began trading on Thursday. The Dow fell 0.7%, the S&P 500 lost 0.8% and the Nasdaq was down 0.9%. Crude oil traded above $73 per barrel, while gold rose $2 to $2030 per ounce.

Stocks crept higher on Wednesday morning ahead of Thursday's next read on inflation. Bitcoin has fallen ahead of the SEC decision on spot bitcoin ETFs. The Dow rose 0.2%, the S&P 500 gained 0.2% and the Nasdaq was up 0.4%. Crude oil traded just above $72 per barrel, while gold fell $1 to $2032 per ounce.

Stocks were lower on Tuesday morning. Yesterday's tech rally reversed following a profit warning from Samsung. Juniper Networks (JNPR) shares are up on news that Hewlett Packard (HPE) was in talks to acquire Juniper. The Dow fell 0.6%, the S&P 500 0.3%, and the Nasdaq is down 0.1%. Crude oil rose to $72 per barrel, while gold traded near $2035 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Monday morning. The DJIA is under pressure following another issue with Boeing's flagship aircraft, while the Nasdaq is heading higher. On the economic front, according to the December Survey of Consumer Expectations, median inflation expectations for the one-year-ahead hit the lowest level recorded since January 2021. Median inflation expectations declined for all timeframes, falling to 3.0% from 3.4% at one year, to 2.6% from 3.0% at three years, and to 2.5% from 2.7% at five years. Oil prices are down 4% after Saudi Arabia cut its official price for its Arab light crude to the lowest level in 27 months. The Dow fell 0.2%, while the S&P 500 is up 0.5%, and the Nasdaq gained 1.2%. Crude oil fell to $71 per barrel, while gold traded near $2040 per ounce.

Stocks were little changed on Friday morning following comments by New York Fed President John Williams that talk of rate cuts is 'premature.' Meanwhile, according to the Empire State Manufacturing Survey, the December manufacturing index dropped 24 points to -14.5 from +9.1 in November. On the earnings front, shares of Costco rose more than 3% after it reported above-consensus fiscal 1Q results. The Dow rose 0.1%, the S&P 500 gained 0.1% and the Nasdaq was up 0.5%. Crude oil traded near $71 per barrel, while gold rose $5 to $2050 per ounce.

U.S. equities rallied on Thursday morning following the Fed's decision to hold rates steady and positive economic data. Last week's initial jobless claims came in at 202,000, down from 220,000 in the week prior. The Street had been expecting that new claims would remain at 220,000. U.S. retail and food services sales rose 0.3% in November according the U.S. Census Bureau's advance reading. Excluding automobiles and parts, sales rose 0.2%; excluding gasoline stations, sales rose 0.6%. The leading sales categories were food services and drinking places (+1.6%), sporting goods, hobby, music and book shops (+1.3%), health and personal care (+0.9%), and furniture stores (+0.9%). Sales fell in gasoline stations (-2.9%), electronics and appliances (-1.1%), and building material stores (-0.4%). The Dow rose 0.2%, the S&P 500 gained 0.3% and the Nasdaq was up 0.2%. Crude oil traded near $72 per barrel, while gold rose $57 to $2055 per ounce.

Stocks ticked higher on Wednesday morning as investors await the Fed's interest-rate decision due later today. Shares of Tesla Inc. (TSLA) are lower after the company announced a recall of more than two million cars based on issues with the autopilot feature in the vehicles. Shares of Pfizer Inc. (PFE) are down more than 8% after the company offered 2024 revenue guidance that disappointed investors, and also included results from soon-to-be acquired Seagen. The Dow rose less than 0.1%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.2% and the Nasdaq was up 0.1%. Crude oil traded near $69 per barrel, while gold rose $5 to $1999 per ounce.

Stocks edged higher on Tuesday morning as investors digested the latest CPI report ahead of the Fed meeting. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.1% in November from 0.0% in October. Shelter rose while gasoline fell. Core inflation remained unchanged from October, at 4%. The Dow rose 0.2%, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were nearly flat. Crude oil traded near $69 per barrel, while gold rose $5 to $1999 per ounce.

Stocks remained little changed on Monday morning ahead of the consumer price index release tomorrow and the Fed's decision on interest rates on Wednesday. Shares of Macy's rose 19% on news that the company is considering a $5.8 billion buyout offer. Cigna stock rose 17% when it ended merger talks with Humana. The Dow rose 0.2%, the S&P slightly up, and the Nasdaq fell 0.4%. Crude oil fell nearly 3% to $71 per barrel, while gold fell $17 to $1998 per ounce.

Stocks edged lower on Friday after briefly rising following a stronger-than-expected employment report. The Labor Department said that the U.S. economy added 199,000 payroll jobs in November, up from 150,000 in October and above the Bloomberg consensus forecast of 185,000. The increase was driven in part by the return of workers following the UAW and Hollywood strikes. The unemployment rate fell to 3.7%, down from 3.9% in October and below the consensus forecast. The University of Michigan sentiment index increased to 69.4. The Dow rose 0.02%, while the S&P 500 was down 0.04%, and the Nasdaq was flat. Crude oil traded near $71 per barrel, while gold fell $22 to $2025 per ounce.

Stocks rose on Thursday morning as investors awaited the November employment report on Friday. Weekly unemployment claims were largely in line with expectations. The Labor Department said that first-time claims rose by 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 220,000 for the week ended December 2, slightly below the Reuters consensus forecast of 222,000. Continuing claims fell by 64,000 to 1.861 million. Meanwhile, outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said that U.S. employers announced 45,510 layoffs in November, up 24% from October but down 41% from November 2022. The Dow was flat, the S&P rose 0.5%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.7%. Crude oil rose 1% to $70 per barrel, while gold fell $5 to $2043 per ounce.

Stocks edged higher on Wednesday morning, led by the Consumer Discretionary and Industrial sectors. Employment data was weaker than expected. Payroll provider ADP said that U.S. companies added 103,000 jobs in November, down from 106,000 in October and below the Reuters consensus forecast of 130,000. ADP also reported that year-over-year wage growth slowed to 5.6% in November, the smallest increase since September 2021. The Dow rose 0.1%, the S&P was flat, and the Nasdaq rose 0.1%. Crude oil fell sharply to below $70 per barrel, while gold traded near $2048 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Tuesday morning following new employment and service sector data. In its monthly JOLTS survey, the Labor Department said that job openings fell to 8.73 million on the last day of October, down from 9.35 million a month earlier and below the Reuters consensus forecast of 9.3 million. Services data was stronger than expected. The Institute for Supply Management said that its non-manufacturing PMI rose to 52.7 in November from 51.8 in October and also topped the consensus forecast of 52.0. CVS shares rose 4% after the company issued strong 2024 sales guidance and raised its dividend by 10%. The Dow fell 0.3%, the S&P rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.6%. Crude oil rose to $73.50 per barrel, while gold fell $12 to trade near $2031 per ounce.

Stocks fell on Monday morning as investors reassessed prospects for Fed rate cuts in 2024 and awaited the November employment report on Friday. On the M&A front, Hawaiian Holdings, the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, soared on news of a buyout offer from Alaska Air Group. The Alaska offer of $18 per share represented a 270% premium to the HA closing price on Friday. Elsewhere, Spotify shares rose more than 8% after the music streaming service announced a new round of layoffs, while Uber rose nearly 5% after being added to the S&P 500 index. The Dow fell 0.4%, the S&P 0.7%, and the Nasdaq 1.1%. Crude oil fell nearly 1% to $73 per barrel while gold traded near $2043 per ounce.

Stocks rose on Friday morning as investors weighed new comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Speaking at Spelman College in Atlanta, Mr. Powell warned that it would be 'premature to conclude with confidence' that the Fed had completed its rate hike cycle, or to speculate on the timing of rate cuts. Mr. Powell also reiterated that the central bank was 'prepared to tighten policy further if it becomes appropriate to do so.' Meanwhile, manufacturing data was weaker than expected, as the manufacturing purchasing managers' index showed contraction for the 13th straight month. The Institute for Supply Management said that its manufacturing PMI held steady at 46.7 in November, below the Reuters consensus forecast of 47.6. The Dow rose 0.5%, the S&P 0.4%, and the Nasdaq 0.3%. Crude oil traded near $76 per barrel, while gold rose $21 to $2079 per ounce.

Stocks were mixed on Thursday morning following positive inflation data. The Commerce Department said that its personal consumption expenditures price index rose 3.0% from the prior year in October, down from 3.4% in September and in line with the Bloomberg consensus forecast. The core PCE, excluding volatile food and energy prices, rose 3.5%, down from 3.7% a month earlier and also in line with consensus. The data suggested that the Fed would continue to hold interest rates steady at its December meeting. On the employment front, first-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose by 7,000 to a seasonally adjusted 218,000 for the week ended November 25, slightly below the consensus forecast. The Dow rose 0.9%, the S&P was flat, and the Nasdaq fell 0.5%. Crude oil fell nearly 2% to $77 per barrel, while gold fell $8 to $2060 per ounce.

Stocks rose on Wednesday morning following a stronger-than-expected GDP report. The Commerce Department said that the U.S. economy expanded at a 5.2% annualized rate in 3Q, up from a prior estimate of 4.9% and above the Reuters consensus forecast of 5.0% growth. GM shares surged after the automaker announced a 33% dividend increase and a record stock buyback. The company also issued a new 2023 earnings forecast after withdrawing its guidance during the UAW strike. The Dow rose 0.1%, the S&P 0.3%, and the Nasdaq 0.4%. Crude oil fell to $76 per barrel, while gold traded near $2063 per ounce.

Stocks edged higher on Tuesday morning amid an upturn in consumer confidence and reports of strong Cyber Monday sales. Investors also looked ahead to new GDP and inflation data later in the week. The Conference Board said that its consumer confidence index rose to 102.0 in November, up from 99.1 in October and above the Reuters consensus forecast of 101.0. The reading was the first increase after three straight monthly declines. Adobe Analytics reported that consumers spent $12.4 billion online on Cyber Monday, up 9.6% from the prior year. The Dow rose 0.4%, the S&P 0.2%, and the Nasdaq 0.3%. Crude oil rose to $77 per barrel, while gold jumped $24 to trade near $2036 per ounce.

Stocks were little changed on Monday morning as investors weighed new housing market data and awaited a key inflation report - the October PCE price index - later this week. The Commerce Department said that U.S. new home sales fell to an annualized 679,000 in October, down 5.6% from September and well below the Bloomberg consensus forecast of 725,000. However, sales were still up 17.7% from the prior year. The Dow fell 0.1%, the S&P fell 0.1%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.1%. Crude oil rose slightly to $76 per barrel while gold traded near $2011 per ounce.

Stocks rose on Wednesday morning as investors weighed new durable goods and employment data, along with earnings reports from Nvidia, Autodesk, and Deere. The Commerce Department said that capital goods orders fell 5.4% in October, down from a revised 4.0% increase in September, reflecting a sharp decline in aircraft orders. The Reuters consensus estimate had called for a decline of 3.1%. Core capital goods orders, excluding aircraft, fell 0.1% last month after a 0.2% decline in September. On the employment front, the Labor Department said that first-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell by 24,000 to a seasonally adjusted 209,000 for the week ended November 18, below the consensus forecast of 226,000. The Dow rose 0.4%, the S&P 0.4%, and the Nasdaq 0.5%. Crude oil fell sharply to $75 per barrel, while gold traded near $1995 per ounce.

Stocks fell on Tuesday morning as investors weighed results from major retailers and awaited earnings from Nvidia after the close. Lowe's shares fell after the company cut its full-year guidance, citing weaker purchases of big-ticket items and reduced spending on DIY projects. Best Buy shares also fell following mixed 3Q results and a lower full-year sales forecast. On the housing front, the National Association of Realtors said that U.S. sales of existing homes fell 4.1% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.79 million units, below the Reuters consensus forecast of 3.90 million. The Dow fell 0.2%, the S&P 0.4%, and the Nasdaq 0.8%. Crude oil fell slightly to $77.50 per barrel, while gold jumped $27 to trade near $2007 per ounce.

Stocks rose on Monday morning, led by gains in the Technology and Communication Services sectors. Microsoft shares rose on news that Sam Altman, the former head of OpenAI, would join the company and lead a new advanced AI research team. On Tuesday, investors will weigh earnings from chipmaker Nvidia as well as the Fed's latest meeting minutes. The Dow rose 0.3%, the S&P 0.5%, and the Nasdaq 0.8%. Crude oil rose $2 to $78 per barrel while gold traded near $1976 per ounce.

Stocks edged lower on Friday morning as investors weighed more 3Q earnings reports along with new housing market data. Gap Inc. reported much stronger than expected adjusted 3Q EPS, sending the shares up nearly 30%. However, management warned of softer consumer spending in the coming quarters, echoing recent comments from Walmart and Target. On the housing front, the Commerce Department said that single-family housing starts edged up 0.2% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 970,000, while overall starts rose 1.9% to an annualized 1.372 million, above the Reuters consensus of 1.35 million. The Dow fell 0.1%, the S&P 0.1%, and the Nasdaq 0.2%. Crude oil traded near $75 per barrel, while gold fell to $1985 per ounce.

Stocks fell on Thursday morning as investors weighed a new round of earnings reports and weekly employment data. Walmart shares fell nearly 8% despite strong 3Q results after the company warned of a slowdown in consumer spending. Network gear maker Cisco also fell sharply after lowering its FY24 guidance. On the employment front, first-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose by 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 231,000 for the week ended November 11, above the Reuters consensus of 220,000. The Dow fell 0.4%, the S&P 0.1%, and the Nasdaq 0.1%. Crude oil fell sharply to $73 per barrel, while gold jumped $22 to $1986 per ounce.