Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 0.3%, which is a sign of improvement after the index slumped by 1.4% during after-hours trading on Thursday. The S&P 500 declined by 0.4% while futures on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.6%, narrower than previous declines.

One stock that was hit unexpectedly is Netflix, with the streaming giant declining by 3% in after-hours trading. While the company added over nine million new subscribers in the past quarter, its value was dragged down due to a revenue guidance of $9.49 billion for the second quarter, lower than an estimated $9.51 billion.

The post Stocks Continue Slide as Israel-Iran Tension Ensues appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

Futures on the Euro Stoxx 50 rose 0.7%, while in the United States, futures remained relatively static, with futures listed on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 remaining unchanged. Nikkei futures rose by 0.3%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slumped by 1.6%. The Shanghai Composite edged 0.2% higher.

Gold rose by 0.7% to hit a record value of $2,389.34 an ounce. As supply uncertainty rises due to Middle East tensions, with West Texas Intermediate crude rising by 0.8% to $85.69 per barrel. In cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin rose 0.6% to $70,940.49 while Ether was up 0.5% to $3,543.65.

The post European Stocks Rises as Gold Hits Fresh Record appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

Contracts listed on the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index rose 0.3% higher, with futures on the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising marginally higher. The 10-year Treasury Yield rose to 4.45%, with 4.5% being viewed as a potential tipping point by some investors as it appears to be on track to return to last year’s highs.

Wednesday’s CPI report is expected to provide a deeper indication of whether the central bank will indeed consider implementing three rate cuts this year as previously mentioned by Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Investor anxiety was stoked last Thursday when Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari claimed that the Fed may even forego interest rate cuts entirely this year depending on the trajectory of price pressures.

The post Futures Stall as Markets Await Fresh Inflation Data appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

303,000 jobs were added in March, vastly outperforming the rise of 205,000 that was predicted by Wall Street analysts. The unemployment rate declined from 3.9% to 3.8% on a monthly basis. The main source of growth came from the healthcare industry, which added 72,300 jobs, followed by 71,000 government jobs.

In commodities, oil prices rose on the back of rising Middle East tensions, threatening to bottleneck supplies. West Texas Intermediate futures rose to $86.60 per barrel, while international benchmark Brent crude futures rose past $91 per barrel.

The post Positive Jobs Report Lifts U.S. Stocks appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

The benchmark S&P 500 edged 0.1% higher, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose by about 0.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped lower by 0.1%.

Powell spoke at Stanford University on Wednesday, explaining that while inflation is on a “bumpy” pathway toward the Fed’s 2% target, the central bank is nevertheless set to introduce rate cuts. While stocks enjoyed a rampant rally to start the year, they entered the red last week following a dent in consumer confidence. The S&P 500 has gained almost 10% for the year to date.

The post Stocks Edge Higher as Fed Chair Confirms Rate Cuts Ahead appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

March jobs data, set to be released later this week is expected to show that employment has continued to rise this past month. While Powell is expected to provide more insight in Wednesday’s speech, he previously mentioned that Fed policymakers are awaiting further evidence to suggest that prices are being contained before introducing interest rate cuts.

Oil edged towards a five-month high as Middle East tension continues and Mexican supplies remain tight. West Texas Intermediate rose 0.6% to $84.25 per barrel. Spot gold traded 0.2% higher at $2,255.31 an ounce.

The post U.S. Futures Idle as Investors Assess Federal Reserve Outlook appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

2024 has proven to be a prosperous year for the benchmark S&P 500, with the index closing at record highs on 20 occasions so far this year. The index remains on track to reach its fifth consecutive monthly gain.

Investor confidence, and therefore the trajectory of stocks going forward is expected to be guided by further economic data set to be released later this week. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index is set to be released on Friday. Known as the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure, the PCE is expected to influence the central bank’s monetary policy trajectory.

The post S&P 500 Hits New Record as Dow Surges appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

The S&P 500 slipped by 0.3%, while the Dow Jones Industrial average fell by 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped by 0.6%, a marked difference from its record close during the previous session.

Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite have gained as much as 10% since the start of the year, with investors appearing to be cautiously awaiting the events that unfold during the shorter trading week given that markets will be closed for Good Friday. Investors are also tracking economic data as a means of gauging the Federal Reserve’s next moves with expectations of rate cuts later this year.

The post U.S. Stocks Pause as Boeing CEO Set to Depart appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

The firm’s team of strategists, led by David Kostin, expect the valuations of megacap tech companies to continue their expansion, thereby potentially sending the index to 6,000 by year-end, reaching a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.

“Although AI optimism appears high, long-term growth expectations and valuations for the largest TMT stocks are still far from ‘bubble’ territory,” the team of strategists observed in a note to investors. Closing at 5,234.18 on Friday, the S&P 500 is up by almost 10% this year.

The post Goldman Sticks With S&P 500 Year-End Forecast of 5,200 Amid Strong Economic Data appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

While the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped about 0.7%, drifting further from the 40,000 mark, while the S&P 500 edged 0.1% lower. In contrast, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, which started the day lower, ended about 0.2% higher, closing at a fresh all-time high.

FedEx emerged as a major winner during the session, jumping 7% after operating margins improved and profits beat expectations. Nike stocks declined by 7% after the athletic apparel brand reported poorer sales than expected. Next week is expected to be quiet on the economic data front, with GameStop to report its earnings on Tuesday.

The post Dow Slips as Nasdaq Hits Record High appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 0.3%, which is a sign of improvement after the index slumped by 1.4% during after-hours trading on Thursday. The S&P 500 declined by 0.4% while futures on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.6%, narrower than previous declines.

One stock that was hit unexpectedly is Netflix, with the streaming giant declining by 3% in after-hours trading. While the company added over nine million new subscribers in the past quarter, its value was dragged down due to a revenue guidance of $9.49 billion for the second quarter, lower than an estimated $9.51 billion.

The post Stocks Continue Slide as Israel-Iran Tension Ensues appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

Futures on the Euro Stoxx 50 rose 0.7%, while in the United States, futures remained relatively static, with futures listed on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 remaining unchanged. Nikkei futures rose by 0.3%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slumped by 1.6%. The Shanghai Composite edged 0.2% higher.

Gold rose by 0.7% to hit a record value of $2,389.34 an ounce. As supply uncertainty rises due to Middle East tensions, with West Texas Intermediate crude rising by 0.8% to $85.69 per barrel. In cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin rose 0.6% to $70,940.49 while Ether was up 0.5% to $3,543.65.

The post European Stocks Rises as Gold Hits Fresh Record appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

Contracts listed on the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index rose 0.3% higher, with futures on the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising marginally higher. The 10-year Treasury Yield rose to 4.45%, with 4.5% being viewed as a potential tipping point by some investors as it appears to be on track to return to last year’s highs.

Wednesday’s CPI report is expected to provide a deeper indication of whether the central bank will indeed consider implementing three rate cuts this year as previously mentioned by Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Investor anxiety was stoked last Thursday when Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari claimed that the Fed may even forego interest rate cuts entirely this year depending on the trajectory of price pressures.

The post Futures Stall as Markets Await Fresh Inflation Data appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

303,000 jobs were added in March, vastly outperforming the rise of 205,000 that was predicted by Wall Street analysts. The unemployment rate declined from 3.9% to 3.8% on a monthly basis. The main source of growth came from the healthcare industry, which added 72,300 jobs, followed by 71,000 government jobs.

In commodities, oil prices rose on the back of rising Middle East tensions, threatening to bottleneck supplies. West Texas Intermediate futures rose to $86.60 per barrel, while international benchmark Brent crude futures rose past $91 per barrel.

The post Positive Jobs Report Lifts U.S. Stocks appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

The benchmark S&P 500 edged 0.1% higher, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose by about 0.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped lower by 0.1%.

Powell spoke at Stanford University on Wednesday, explaining that while inflation is on a “bumpy” pathway toward the Fed’s 2% target, the central bank is nevertheless set to introduce rate cuts. While stocks enjoyed a rampant rally to start the year, they entered the red last week following a dent in consumer confidence. The S&P 500 has gained almost 10% for the year to date.

The post Stocks Edge Higher as Fed Chair Confirms Rate Cuts Ahead appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

March jobs data, set to be released later this week is expected to show that employment has continued to rise this past month. While Powell is expected to provide more insight in Wednesday’s speech, he previously mentioned that Fed policymakers are awaiting further evidence to suggest that prices are being contained before introducing interest rate cuts.

Oil edged towards a five-month high as Middle East tension continues and Mexican supplies remain tight. West Texas Intermediate rose 0.6% to $84.25 per barrel. Spot gold traded 0.2% higher at $2,255.31 an ounce.

The post U.S. Futures Idle as Investors Assess Federal Reserve Outlook appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

2024 has proven to be a prosperous year for the benchmark S&P 500, with the index closing at record highs on 20 occasions so far this year. The index remains on track to reach its fifth consecutive monthly gain.

Investor confidence, and therefore the trajectory of stocks going forward is expected to be guided by further economic data set to be released later this week. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index is set to be released on Friday. Known as the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure, the PCE is expected to influence the central bank’s monetary policy trajectory.

The post S&P 500 Hits New Record as Dow Surges appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

The S&P 500 slipped by 0.3%, while the Dow Jones Industrial average fell by 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped by 0.6%, a marked difference from its record close during the previous session.

Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite have gained as much as 10% since the start of the year, with investors appearing to be cautiously awaiting the events that unfold during the shorter trading week given that markets will be closed for Good Friday. Investors are also tracking economic data as a means of gauging the Federal Reserve’s next moves with expectations of rate cuts later this year.

The post U.S. Stocks Pause as Boeing CEO Set to Depart appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

The firm’s team of strategists, led by David Kostin, expect the valuations of megacap tech companies to continue their expansion, thereby potentially sending the index to 6,000 by year-end, reaching a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.

“Although AI optimism appears high, long-term growth expectations and valuations for the largest TMT stocks are still far from ‘bubble’ territory,” the team of strategists observed in a note to investors. Closing at 5,234.18 on Friday, the S&P 500 is up by almost 10% this year.

The post Goldman Sticks With S&P 500 Year-End Forecast of 5,200 Amid Strong Economic Data appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.

While the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped about 0.7%, drifting further from the 40,000 mark, while the S&P 500 edged 0.1% lower. In contrast, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, which started the day lower, ended about 0.2% higher, closing at a fresh all-time high.

FedEx emerged as a major winner during the session, jumping 7% after operating margins improved and profits beat expectations. Nike stocks declined by 7% after the athletic apparel brand reported poorer sales than expected. Next week is expected to be quiet on the economic data front, with GameStop to report its earnings on Tuesday.

The post Dow Slips as Nasdaq Hits Record High appeared first on theprimarymarket.com.