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Stock futures rise as indexes aim to pare weekly losses

Stock futures rise as indexes aim to pare weekly losses

U.S. stocks gained Friday, shaking off some losses from earlier this week after concerns over persistent inflation and the resilience of the U.S. economy stirred up further volatility in recent sessions.

The S&P 500 rose by more than 1.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} intraday on Friday while the Nasdaq jumped by nearly 3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. The Dow added more than 350 points. The sharp move higher came after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reaffirmed in an interview with Marketplace public radio on Thursday that two more 50 basis point rate hikes were on the table for the next two Fed meetings, and that officials were not “actively considering” a more aggressive 75 basis point hike. His comments echoed what other Fed officials also said this week.

Just a day earlier, the S&P 500 had closed within striking distance of a bear market, typically defined as a close of at least 20{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} from a recent record high. The index has declined by just over 18{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} from its Jan. 3 record high through Thursday’s close, and it paced toward a weekly drop of 4.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} if levels hold through the end of Friday’s session.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite each also headed for weekly losses of 3.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and 6.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, respectively, based on Thursday’s closing prices. Treasury yields have spiked and then pared gains back this week, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield hovering around 2.9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} Friday morning. Bitcoin prices recovered to trade above $30,000 after setting the lowest level since Dec. 2020, as a cratering in prices of Luna further reverberated across the broader cryptocurrency market.

The market gyrations this week coincided with two major inflation reports that came in hotter-than-expected. Thursday’s Producer Price Index showed an 11{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} year-over-year rise in wholesale prices last month, with this rate moderating only slightly from March’s all-time high rate of 11.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. And the Consumer Price Index released earlier this week showed a still-elevated 8.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} annual increase in prices paid by consumers last month.

“Inflation has certainly become not only topical, but a real issue for the broader market, as the Fed has also increased its outlook for the number of [interest rate] hikes needed,” Sonali Pier, managing director and portfolio manager at Pimco, told Yahoo Finance Live on Thursday. “In terms of the effect of inflation, it’s really at this point, we’re going to see if the Fed raising rates, unwinding some of the balance sheet, can take off some of that inflation froth. Because it’s quite high, and it’s starting to impact companies — from their ability to push through from a pricing power perspective, as well as consumers, whether that’s at the gas pump or as a result of food increases and the like.”

Other strategists agreed that the Fed’s response to inflation — and how well the economy holds up as the Fed tightens financial conditions to address inflation — will be the key factor to watch going forward for the markets.

“We’re in an environment right now where inflation is high. The labor market is very tight. The Fed wants to bring inflation down. They want to sort of cool the overheating in the labor market, which means their bias is to tighten financial conditions and try and slow growth,” Jason Draho, UBS Head of Asset Allocation, said on Thursday. “In that environment, it’s not great for any sort of financial assets.”

“[Once] we get some sort of real break on inflation that people become much more comfortable that it’s moderating, and moderating [to] a sustainable level that the Fed could be more comfortable, and they don’t have to hike more aggressively … I think that’s the key catalyst,” Draho said. “Unfortunately, that might take a few more months before the data starts to clearly show inflation is definitely below its peak, and the Fed could achieve its target two years out.”

“So I think for the time being, it’s definitely a choppy market,” he added.

—

10:15 a.m. ET: Consumer sentiment drops to lowest level since 2011: University of Michigan

Consumer sentiment fell to a more than decade low in early May, according to the University of Michigan, as concerns around inflation persisted.

The University of Michigan’s closely watched Surveys of Consumers index dropped to 59.1 in the preliminary May report, declining sharply from April’s reading of 65.2. The latest reading marked the lowest since 2011.

The sentiment declines “were broad based — for current economic conditions as well as consumer expectations, and visible across income, age, education, geography, and political affiliation—continuing the general downward trend in sentiment over the past year,” Joanne Hsu, director of the Surveys of Consumers, said in a press statement. “Consumers’ assessment of their current financial situation relative to a year ago is at its lowest reading since 2013, with 36{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of consumers attributing their negative assessment to inflation.”

Consumers’ inflation expectations remained elevated in May, with the survey showing one-year inflation expectations were unchanged at 5.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. However, some strategists suggested the drop in risk assets over the past several weeks played an even larger role in the drop in the headline index.

“I would argue that the drop was largely a function of the plunge in stock prices. We know U. Mich is more sensitive to markets,” Neil Dutta, head of economics at Renaissance Macro Research, wrote in an email Friday morning. “Inflation is an issue sure but the inflation expectations series were unchanged.”

—

9:33 a.m. ET: Stocks open higher

Here were the main moves in markets as of 9:33 a.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +43.33 (+1.10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 3,973.41

  • Dow (^DJI): +241.55 (+0.76{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 31,971.85

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +189.64 (+1.67{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 11,560.61

  • Crude (CL=F): +$3.05 (+2.87{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $109.18 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$24.60 (-1.35{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,800.00 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +9.8 bps to yield 2.9150{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

—

7:54 a.m. ET: Tesla shares jump in early trading after Musk says Twitter deal on pause

Shares of Tesla (TSLA) jumped by more than 6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} ahead of the opening bell Friday morning after CEO Elon Musk said his $44 billion plan to purchase Twitter (TWTR) was temporarily paused, pending more details over how much of Twitter’s use base comprises bot accounts.

“Twitter deal temporarily on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of users,” Musk said in a Twitter post early Friday. He linked to a Reuters story suggesting Twitter filings showed fake or spam accounts made up fewer than 5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of the company’s monetizable daily active users.

In announcing his deal to buy Twitter over the past month, Musk has suggested targeting bot accounts and authenticating users was one of his priorities for the company post-deal.

Twitter shares sank 11{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in early trading to hover around $40 apiece.

—

7:45 a.m. ET Friday: Stock futures jump after Powell reaffirms 75 basis point rate hikes not currently under discussion

Here’s where markets were trading ahead of the opening bell Friday morning:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +46 points (+1.17{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 3,973.25

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +262.00 points (+0.83{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 31,914.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +206.75 points (+1.73{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 12,154.00

  • Crude (CL=F): +$1.79 (+1.69{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $107.92 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$7.90 (-0.43{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,816.70 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +9.8 bps to yield 2.915{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

—

6:10 p.m. ET Thursday: Stocks open lower

Here’s where markets were trading Thursday evening:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): -10 points (-0.25{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 3,917.25

  • Dow futures (YM=F): -73 points (-0.23{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 31,579.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): -41 points (-0.34{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 11,906.25

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 12: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on May 12, 2022 in New York City. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell in morning trading as investors continue to worry about inflation and other global issues. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 12: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on May 12, 2022 in New York City. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell in morning trading as investors continue to worry about inflation and other global issues. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Emily McCormick is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

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Stocks rise as traders look ahead to Fed, earnings

Stocks rise as traders look ahead to Fed, earnings

U.S. stocks turned higher in the first session of May following one of the worst monthly performances for the S&P 500 since the depths of the pandemic in 2020.

The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq each rose intraday Monday, shaking off some losses from just after the opening bell. U.S. crude oil prices fell to hover above $101 per barrel, and the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield held above 2.9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, or near its highest level since December 2018.

Investors this week are bracing for more potentially market-moving events to take place following April’s volatile stretch of trading. The S&P 500 sank by 8.8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in April for its worst monthly performance since March 2020. Tech stocks especially were battered, and the Nasdaq Composite slid by 13{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} last month for its worst since October 2008.

The Federal Reserve’s next monetary policy-setting meeting will be especially closely watched in the days ahead, with the central bank poised to release its latest policy statement and hold a press conference with Fed Chair Jerome Powell Wednesday afternoon. Market participants expect the Fed will raise rates by 50 basis points at the end of this meeting, marking the first rate hike of that magnitude since 2000. This would follow the 25 basis-point rate hike the Fed carried out in March, bringing the target range for the federal funds rate to between 0.25{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and 0.50{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and raising the low end of the range above zero for the first time since March 2020.

The Fed is also expected to formally announce that it will begin quantitative tightening, or rolling assets off of its $9 trillion balance sheet. The central bank had scooped up assets and added to its balance sheet over the course of the pandemic as another means of helping support the virus-stricken economy. However, expectations for the undoing of this build have stirred up volatility after markets became accustomed to these easy money policies.

And with U.S. GDP growth turning negative for the first time since mid-2020 in the first quarter of this year, some pundits have begun to question whether the Fed will be able to tighten monetary policies without setting off a deeper downturn in economic activity.

“Recession risk has risen, and the financial health of the private sector may ultimately determine whether policy tightening will tilt the economy into a downturn,” Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jan Hatzius wrote in a note Sunday. “Financial fragility in the private sector has historically amplified the impact of the headwinds confronting today’s expansion: higher interest rates, rapid wage inflation, and slowing growth.”

Meanwhile, earnings season will also press on this week, with a number of closely watched companies from Airbnb (ABNB) to Uber (UBER) and Lyft (LYFT) and Block Inc. (SQ) each reporting results. Heading into this week, 55{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of S&P 500 components had reported actual first-quarter results, and of these, 80{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} topped earnings per share estimates, while 72{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} exceeded revenue expectations, according to data from FactSet.

The expected earnings growth rate for S&P 500 companies in aggregate has also now risen to 7.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, up from the 4.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} seen at the end of March, FactSet noted. Still, if 7.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} remains the actual earnings growth rate for the index in the first quarter, it would mark the slowest rate since the fourth quarter of 2020.

—

9:32 a.m. ET: Stocks open mixed

Here were the main moves in markets as of 9:32 a.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +3.80 (+0.09{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,135.73

  • Dow (^DJI): +80.64 (+0.24{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 33,057.85

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -6.49 (-0.05{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 12,328.15

  • Crude (CL=F): -$2.96 (-2.83{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $101.73 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$48.30 (-2.53{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,863.40 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +7.2 bps to yield 2.9590{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

—

7:43 a.m. ET Monday: Stock futures head for a higher open

Here’s where markets were trading Monday morning ahead of the opening bell:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +7.5 points (+0.18{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,135.00

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +89 points (+0.27{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 32,971.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +27.75 points (+0.22{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 12,879.75

  • Crude (CL=F): -$2.95 (-2.82{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $101.74 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$32.40 (-1.69{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,879.30 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +3.5 bps to yield 2.92{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 28: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on April 28, 2022 in New York City. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up in morning trading as markets continued to move through a period of volatility over inflation concerns and the war in Ukraine. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 28: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on April 28, 2022 in New York City. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up in morning trading as markets continued to move through a period of volatility over inflation concerns and the war in Ukraine. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

—

Emily McCormick is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

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Citigroup revenue down in Q1 2022 while assets and advisors rise

Citigroup revenue down in Q1 2022 while assets and advisors rise

Citigroup saw prosperity administration and total revenues fall a bit throughout what bank leaders explained as an “unpredictable” first quarter in earnings statements launched late last week.

But the financial institution remains favourable about the momentum of the worldwide wealth management enterprise it unified throughout the initial a few months of 2021, celebrating obtaining much more assets and advisors in dwelling by the close of the 2022’s initial quarter.

“Wealth revenues declined 1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, pushed by fewer customer exercise and investments, partially offset by better deposits. Financial commitment revenues declined as geopolitical tensions impacted the cash markets, which resulted in consumers pulling back their buying and selling activity, especially in Asia,” Citigroup Chief Money Officer Mark Mason reported all through the firm’s earnings simply call with analysts, according to a transcript by Motley Idiot. “However, fundamental motorists remain strong with ordinary deposits up 14{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, typical financial loans up 5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, client assets up 4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and consumer advisors up 6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.”

Citigroup World wide Prosperity Management documented 1st quarter earnings of $1.92 billion, down just 1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} from the $1.95 billion recorded a person 12 months back. Officers cited decreased client activity in investments, specially in Asia, and the principal driver of the decrease.

But it was an advancement for the quarter with worldwide wealth administration revenues up 7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} compared to the close of 2021. In the meantime, the 4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} boost in customer belongings pushed the full to $788 billion in Q1 2022 in contrast to $756 billion in Q1 2021.

Total revenue arrived in at $19.2 billion for the quarter, down 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} for the 12 months but up 13{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} from Q4 2021. Contributing to the year-above-12 months slide was reduce non-fascination revenue throughout enterprises that offset larger net fascination cash flow pushed in component by services in Citi’s Personalized Banking and Prosperity Administration division.

Net income of $4.3 billion was down 46{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} from a calendar year ago, pushed by the increased price of credit score, better fees and the declining revenues. Expenses rose to $13.2 billion, an enhance of 15{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} yr above yr.

Web fascination money was $10.9 million for the quarter, an increase of 3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} from the yr-ago period of time. Earnings for every share had been $2.02, 59 cents superior than the normal estimate of analysts polled by FactSet Investigate Systems.

Citi’s particular banking organization contributed $4 billion in the initial quarter, bringing the Personal Banking and Prosperity Management division’s income to $5.9 billion. That is up 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} for the quarter, and down 1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} from a person 12 months in the past.

Retail Solutions revenues of $1.3 billion ended up mostly unchanged as increased net interest earnings was offset by greater lover payments, driven by enhanced credit score performance, officials mentioned.

“While the geopolitical and macro atmosphere has grow to be a lot more risky, we are executing the strategy we declared at our current investor working day,” CEO Jane Fraser mentioned in a assertion. “We had very good engagement in critical drivers such as cards, personal loan growth and vigorous invest in revenue development, so we like where by this business is headed. Whilst geopolitics dampened overall performance in prosperity administration, we are using the services of bankers, boosting our consumer offerings and continuing to increase consumers in equally the personal bank and in Citigold.”

Citigroup’s private lender caters to the ultrawealthy, serving much more than 10,000 ultrahigh web truly worth consumers hailing from in excess of 100 nations around the world which includes far more than a quarter of the world’s billionaires. The firm’s Citigold choices cater to traders with as significantly as $10 million in belongings.

Searching ahead, Fraser mentioned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions it induced unleashed an great offer shock on the planet, fueling inflation and positioning world-wide expansion beneath appreciable stress.

She mentioned the macro outlook for the relaxation of the calendar year can only be described as “complex and unsure.” And whilst it is her position to get ready for all outcomes, Citi’s check out is that powerful nominal income progress and continuing momentum in the labor market will help help general growth in the U.S. in the deal with of inflationary pressures.

“So, with all that is likely on in the globe, we continue being laser-focused on the execution of our technique and our transformation,” Fraser claimed all through final week’s earnings simply call. “I assume the macroenvironment to stay unpredictable, to say the minimum, in the backdrop of a war which is similarly tragic and needless, and the persistent pandemic.”

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Stocks rise to end three-day losing streak as traders eye earnings

Stocks rise to end three-day losing streak as traders eye earnings

U.S. stocks gained on Wednesday as investors monitored a series of closely watched earnings reports and further digested a hot print on inflation in the U.S.

The S&P 500 jumped by more than 1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, ending a three-day losing streak. The Nasdaq Composite outperformed and rose 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} as technology shares jumped and Treasury yields pulled back across the curve.

Investors received a number of quarterly reports from some major U.S. companies and stock index components early Wednesday morning. These included JPMorgan Chase (JPM) — the largest U.S. bank by assets — along with Delta Air Lines (DAL) and Bed, Bath & Beyond (BBBY).

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon offered a cautiously upbeat view of the U.S. economy in the bank’s earnings release on Wednesday. Dimon noted that he remained “optimistic on the economy, at least for the short term,” but still sees “significant geopolitical and economic challenges ahead due to high inflation, supply chain issues and the war in Ukraine.” And the bank also built up its credit reserves by a net $902 million, “largely due to higher probabilities of downside risk,” Dimon said.

Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines, one of the major airlines at the center of the reopening trade, suggested business would pick up further in the current quarter even as first-quarter results showed another loss, as the airline grappled with the omicron variant wave earlier this year. The carrier returned to profitability in the month of March, Delta noted, and noted that revenue is expected to reach between 92{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and 97{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of pre-pandemic levels during the current quarter ended in June.

This early set of earnings reports helped set the tone for what is expected to ultimately be a much milder quarter for earnings growth than in recent periods. As companies grapple with rising labor, raw material and transportation costs and lap last year’s initial reopening-fueled jump in activity, many on Wall Street are looking for narrower margins than in recent quarters, even as sales hold up strongly amid elevated consumer demand and rising prices. Across the S&P 500, companies in aggregate are expected to report year-over-year earnings growth of just 4.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, which if realized, would mark the slowest rate since the fourth quarter of 2020, according to FactSet.

“This earnings season becomes one of the most important earnings seasons because it’s going to give you a lot of insight into which companies … have that durable demand, which companies have that pricing power,” Kristen Bitterly, Citi head of global wealth investments, told Yahoo Finance Live on Tuesday.

“Even in decades like the 1970s, when we had extreme inflation, large-cap quality U.S. equity shares were able to double their share price over that period,” she added. “So that’s the pocket of the market where we’re confidently either staying invested or getting invested.”

And indeed, inflation has remained a primary concern for investors, threatening to weigh further on both consumers’ wallets and corporate profits. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ March Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed inflation rose at the fastest rate since late 1981 last month, jumping by a slightly faster-than-expected 8.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} over last year.

However, some economists suggested the report was not all bad news, and showed some tentative signs of a peak in the rate of price increases.

“The CPI report I think actually has a little bit more good news in it than it appears right on the surface … there’re a number of things in here that suggests that we’re starting to see inflation peak, and it will roll over in the next few months,” Tom Simmons, Jefferies fixed income money market economist, told Yahoo Finance Live on Tuesday. “[It’s] important to keep in mind that CPI, for March, the reference period here was right after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. So really, it’s capturing the most acute period of gasoline price increases. And we’ve seen them already starting to soften in the market a little bit in the few weeks since.”

“The other thing is that services ex-energy — and if you strip out the airline component — that was actually a little bit softer as well than the last few months,” he added. “Housing actually came in a little bit softer in the last few months as well, and goods ex-energy also are coming in a little bit softer as well. So you know, the consumer has been pretty well able to weather the storm here with inflation.”

—

4:05 p.m. ET: Stocks close higher, Nasdaq gains 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

Here’s where stocks closed out Wednesday’s session:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +49.14 (+1.12{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,46.59

  • Dow (^DJI): +344.23 (+1.01{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 34,564.59

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +272.02 (+2.03{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 13,643.59

  • Crude (CL=F): +$3.62 (+3.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $104.22 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$5.10 (+0.26{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,981.20 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -3 bps to yield 2.697{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

—

1:03 p.m. ET: Bed Bath & Beyond shares turn positive despite surprise quarterly loss

Shares of Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) gained intraday on Wednesday, shaking off early losses of as much as 12{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} after the retailer posted an unexpected loss for its fiscal fourth quarter and missed sales expectations.

Adjusted losses were 92 cents a share, whereas Wall Street analysts were looking for earnings of 13 cents a share during the holiday shopping season. Comparable sales were also down 12{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, or more than the 8.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} drop anticipated, based on Bloomberg consensus data.

“We are disappointed that our sales and gross margin performance does not reflect our team’s hard work and execution against both strategic and transformation efforts in 2021,” the company’s CEO Mark Tritton said in the quarterly report’s press release.

“Macroeconomic factors, such as the disruption of the global supply chain, the Omicron variant, as well as the geopolitical turbulence weighing on consumer confidence, have uncovered more vulnerabilities than we could have foreseen at this stage of our transformation, as we completely rebuild the foundation of our business,” he added.

—

11:21 a.m. ET: Peloton shares gain after activist investor Blackwells Capital calls for sale

Peloton (PTON) shares rose Wednesday after activist investment firm Blackwells Capital issued a new call for the connected fitness company to be sold.

“Peloton is a strategically valuable asset that is attractive to many potential acquirers,” according to Blackwells Capital’s slide deck. “An insightful and capable operator would be willing to pay a premium beyond conventional cost and revenue synergies for the opportunity to ‘Reimagine Peloton’ as a dramatically different business than it is today.”

Jason Aintabi, chief investment officer of Blackwells, also doubled down on his criticism of Peloton’s former CEO John Foley, who remains on the board as executive chairman.

“Peloton will continue to be poorly valued for as long as a close-knit group of insiders, who have proven themselves incapable of creating value, continue to wield voting power far in excess of their economic interest,” Aintabi said in a statement. “No shareholder should want Mr. Foley to still sit atop the management pyramid or control the Board through his super voting-stock. He lost his entitlement to both positions when he destroyed $40 billion of shareholder wealth in less than a year.”

—

9:31 a.m. ET: Stocks look for direction

Here were the main moves in markets as of 9:31 a.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -4.23 (-0.10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,393.22

  • Dow (^DJI): -32.30 (-0.09{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 34,188.06

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -9.23 (-0.07{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 13,362.34

  • Crude (CL=F): +$1.44 (+1.43{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $102.04 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$5.20 (+0.26{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,981.30 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -2.6 bps to yield 2.6990{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

—

8:50 a.m. ET: Producer prices hit new high

U.S. producer prices for final demand rose 1.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in March after rising 0.9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in February, the Labor Department said on Wednesday. For the full year, PPI jumped 11.2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} — the biggest gain since the 12-month data was calculated in November 2010. The results superseded estimates of 10.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, according to Bloomberg consensus.

The latest print suggests inflation will remain elevated as Russia’s war on the Ukraine rages on and pushes prices of oil and other commodities higher.

—

7:20 a.m. ET: Stock futures rise amid earnings

Here’s where stocks were trading Wednesday morning:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +26.5 points (+0.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,419.50

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +172 points (+0.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 34,311.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +110.75 points (+0.79{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 14,055.75

  • Crude (CL=F): +$1.45 (+1.44{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $102.05 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$4.20 (+0.21{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,980.30 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +0.6 bps to yield 2.733{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

—

7:03 a.m. ET: JPMorgan posts mixed Q1 results as investment banking revenue slides over last year

JPMorgan Chase posted a mixed first-quarter results, with overall adjusted revenue topping Wall Street’s estimates while some major businesses within the bank showed some softening.

Adjusted revenue of $31.6 billion dropped 4.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} over last year but exceeded consensus estimates for $31.4 billion, according to Bloomberg data. Both fixed income and equity sales and trading revenue topped expectations while declining compared to last year, with these coming out to about $5.7 billion and $3.1 billion, respectively. Investment banking revenue, however, sank by a more marked 28{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and missed estimates, totaling $2.06 billion as equity and debt underwriting activity decreased at the start of this year compared to last.

CEO Jamie Dimon also noted that the banks core lending business remained solid during the quarter.

“Lending strength continued with average firmwide loans up 5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} while credit losses are still at historically low levels,” Dimon said in the earnings release.

—

6:50 a.m. ET: Delta shares rise after airline posts narrower-than-expected Q1 loss, returns to profitability in March

Delta Air Lines shares moved higher in the pre-market session after the airline posted estimates-topping first-quarter results, which included a smaller-than-expected loss.

Adjusted losses came out to $1.23 per share for the March quarter, or narrower than the $1.26 per share loss consensus analysts expected, according to Bloomberg data. Adjusted revenue was $8.2 billion, and was 79{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} recovered compared to levels from the comparable quarter in 2019 before the pandemic. Capacity was 83{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} restored relative to the pre-pandemic period, Delta added.

For the current quarter ending in June, Delta said it expects capacity to further rebound to 84{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of June quarter 2019 levels, with total revenue between 93{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and 97{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of levels from that period in 2019.

“With a strong rebound in demand as omicron faded, we returned to profitability in the month of March, producing a solid adjusted operating margin of almost 10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996},” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in the company’s earnings release Wednesday morning. “As our brand preference and demand momentum grow, we are successfully recapturing higher fuel prices, driving our outlook for a 12 to 14{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} adjusted operating margin and strong free cash flow in the June quarter.”

—

6:10 p.m. ET Tuesday: Stock futures head for a lower open

Here’s where markets were trading Tuesday evening before the opening bell:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +4.25 points (+0.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,397.25

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +33 points (+0.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 34,172.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +17.75 points (+0.13{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 13,962.75

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 12: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during afternoon trading on April 12, 2022 in New York City. Data released this morning showed that inflation rose 8.5 percent in March, the highest annual increase since December 1981, amid energy prices soaring due to Russia's war in Ukraine. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 12: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during afternoon trading on April 12, 2022 in New York City. Data released this morning showed that inflation rose 8.5 percent in March, the highest annual increase since December 1981, amid energy prices soaring due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

—

Emily McCormick is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.

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Stock futures rise before first session of April, jobs report

Stock futures rise before first session of April, jobs report

U.S. stocks were firmly in the green Friday morning as investors looked ahead to a new month of trading and mulled fresh data out of Washington on the state of the labor market.

The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite were each up more than 0.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} after closing out the final trading of March lower to log their worst quarter since the start of 2020.

Investors on Friday are closely monitoring the Labor Department’s monthly jobs report, the most up-to-date snapshot of the strength in hiring across the U.S. economy. U.S. employers added 431,000 jobs in March. Consensus economists were looking for non-farm payrolls to rise by 490,000, according to Bloomberg data, slowing from February’s 678,000 gain but still marking an increase well above pre-pandemic trends. The unemployment rate fell to 3.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} compared to 3.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} expected — the lowest since February 2020.

Stocks are pushing ahead into April following a volatile month and quarter of trading. The S&P 500 and Dow each dropped more than 4.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} for the first three months of 2022, closing out their worst quarters — and first quarterly declines — since the first quarter of 2020. The Nasdaq Composite saw the biggest decline, shedding 9.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} over the past three-month period, as investors rotated away from the technology and growth stocks that had led the market higher last year.

April has historically been a strong month for stocks, and has in fact produced a positive return for the S&P 500 in 15 of the last 16 years, according to LPL Financial’s Ryan Detrick. This time, however, stocks are facing a variety of headwinds that may upend this historically positive seasonality.

Namely, a confluence of concerns around the geopolitical and macroeconomic backdrop contributed to stocks’ worst quarterly performance in two years, and have yet to be fully resolved. Geopolitical risks have been elevated since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February, raising the specter of further snarls to global supply chains that have already been struggling to recover from pandemic-era disruptions. A broad-based spike in prices, and in oil and energy prices especially, has further stoked concerns over the resilience of the consumer — the key driver of the domestic economy — going forward. And the Federal Reserve has begun a protracted process of raising interest rates and tightening financial conditions in a market that had grown accustomed to easy monetary policy since 2020.

“I think investors are very happy that the quarter is over. It was a tough one. Obviously inflation was bad all the way until … the end of the quarter,” Robert Cantwell, Upholdings portfolio manager, told Yahoo Finance Live on Thursday. “And in all likelihood, the next four to six weeks, it’s likely going to continue to be bad news because inflation is persistent, and we’re still comping record growth rates from the first four months of last year.”

“That said, as you get to the second half of next quarter, you could see a scenario where growth rates start accelerating again while inflation tempers, and that has the potential to bring a lot of the bulls back into the market,” he added.

LPL Financial points out that corporate profits may be another component driving the latest rebound in equities. Even in the face of war in Eastern Europe and decades-high inflation, earnings have been holding up, and estimates for S&P 500 Index earnings per share over the next four quarters are higher in March. Although not by much at 1.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, the positive forecast is significant under the circumstances – particularly compared to how other countries have fared. Inflation is driving the more sizable corporate profits as companies enjoy more pricing power as they pass along higher costs to customers.

“On the back of energy independence, the trajectory of U.S. corporate profits has been unaffected by rising energy costs and high inflation so far,” LPL Financial equity strategist Jeffrey Buchbinder noted, adding that conversely, earnings expectations in international markets have fallen in March. “The U.S. profit outlook is the envy of the world right now.”

Elsewhere on the companies front, meme-stock favorite GameStop revealed in a form 8-K filed with the SEC after the bell Thursday that the video-game retailer will seek approval for a stock split at its upcoming shareholder meeting. GME is following a growing list of major companies — Alphabet, Amazon, Tesla — it what could be the “summer of stock splits.” Stock splits are a corporate action taken to improve trading liquidity and make shares more affordable without impacting market capitalization. GME rallied as much as 20{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in extended trading to a 4-month high of more than $200 per share following the news.

—

9:30 a.m. ET: Stocks rise following March jobs report

Here were the main moves in markets at Friday’s open:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +12.54 (+0.28{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,542.95

  • Dow (^DJI): +74.62 (+0.22{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 34,752.97

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +70.78 (+0.50{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 14,291.30

  • Crude (CL=F): -$1.01 (-1.01{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $99.27 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$23.10 (-1.18{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,930.90 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +9.9 bps to yield 2.4260{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

—

8:30 a.m. ET: New payrolls come in lower than expected

The U.S. economy notched another sizable payroll gain in March as the labor market extending its strong and speedy recovery to bring employment back to pre-pandemic levels. U.S. employers added 431,000 jobs, lower than the expected 490,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate dropped a more-than-expected two-tenths of one percent, edging closer to the historic low of 3.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} seen in February 2020, Bankrate senior economic analyst Mark Hamrick noted, though pointing out that the labor force participation rate remains 1 percentage point below its pre-pandemic level.

The labor force participation ticked up slightly to 62.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} after an unexpected jump to 62.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in last month’s data signaled more individuals were returning to look for work or be placed in jobs after being sidelined by COVID-19.

“Beyond the positive March snapshot, the outlook for the next year is for further moderation in jobs creation,” Hamrick said in a note. “Emboldened by exorbitantly high inflation, a hawkish Federal Reserve feels compelled to slam on the brakes. It is hard to imagine how tightening doesn’t ultimately affect the job market.”

—

7:14 a.m. ET Thursday: Futures charge higher to kick off April trading

Here were the main moves in futures trading ahead of the open Friday:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +22.00 points (+0.49{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,552.75

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +172.00 points (+0.50{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 34,790.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +80.00points (+0.45{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 14,948.75

  • Crude (CL=F): +$0.14 (+0.14{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $100.14 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$21.90 (-1.12{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,932.10 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): 0.00 bps to yield 2.3270{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

—

6:12 p.m. ET Thursday: Stock futures open slightly higher

Here’s where the major stock index futures opened Thursday evening:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +12.5 points (+0.28{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,543.25

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +100 points (+0.29{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 34,718.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +51.75 points (+0.35{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 14,920.50

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 28: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 28, 2022 in New York City. Following a positive week for stocks, the Dow Industrial Average was down over 100 points in morning trading. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 28: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 28, 2022 in New York City. Following a positive week for stocks, the Dow Industrial Average was down over 100 points in morning trading. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

—

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Stocks rise, recovering some losses as oil prices sink

Stocks rise, recovering some losses as oil prices sink

Stocks rose Wednesday to recover some losses after a volatile start to the week, as concerns over the impact of the punitive measures countries and companies have taken against Russia weighed on U.S. equity markets.

The S&P 500 closed 2.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} higher at 4,277.89 — posting its biggest gain since June 2020. The Dow gained 650 points, or 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, closing at 33,286.25. The Nasdaq jumped 3.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} closing at 13,255.55, logging its biggest advance since exactly a year ago on March 9, 2021. The CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, dropped nearly 10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} but still held above the 30 level. A day earlier, the S&P 500 dropped another 0.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} on Tuesday to bring its year-to-date losses to 12.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. The Dow shed more than 0.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to sink further into a correction, while the Nasdaq Composite extended losses after sliding into a bear market earlier this week.

Crude oil prices pulled back from 14-year highs after Ukraine signaled it was aiming to pursue a diplomatic solution to Russia’s war. West Texas intermediate crude sank to just over $110 per barrel, while Brent crude traded just above $112 per barrel Wednesday afternoon. Gas prices at the pump, however, spiked to a fresh high across the U.S.

“You can’t have the rise at the fuel pumps not hit the economic pockets of everyday Americans, because it’s going to make everything go up in costs,” Victoria Greene, G-Squared Private Wealth founding partner, told Yahoo Finance Live. “Anything that rides on four wheels or six wheels, including all your shipping — it’s going to make all your costs rise. We’re already in an inflationary environment … it really is going to be something that we have to watch.”

“I don’t think that sanctions are going to go away,” she added. “The world is … angry at this situation. So let’s say miraculously we get a ceasefire tomorrow, I think the general shrinkage and the issues with supply chains are going to be a sticky situation for the rest of the year.”

And beyond the growing list of government-imposed sanctions against Russia, a myriad of major U.S. companies announced fresh plans to stop doing business in Russia for the foreseeable future. In the restaurants space, McDonald’s (MCD), Starbucks (SBUX), Coca-Cola (KO) and PepsiCo (PEP) said they would close some or all operations in Russia. Amazon Web Services said it would stop bringing on new sign-ups from Russia and Belarus, and Shopify announced it was suspending operations in the countries as well.

Given the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and push to isolate Russia from the global economy, some strategists suggested investors should brace for more market volatility.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the bottom yet. And I’d like to be more optimistic, but the reason I say this is, when it comes to oil [and] other commodities, we’re still seeing shocks make their way through the system,” Ann Berry, Wheelhouse chief investment officer, told Yahoo Finance Live on Tuesday.

“We’re not done when it comes to oil and gas yet,” she added. “The U.K. and Europe have said that by the end of this year they’ll start weaning themselves from Russian exports – it’s not fast enough. And if the situation in Ukraine doesn’t get better, I do think there’s a scenario here where Europe will be pushed to take tougher actions faster, which is going to send oil prices only one way which is up from where it is right now.”

—

4:00 p.m. ET: Nasdaq jumps 3.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in biggest advance in a year

Here were the main moves in markets as of 4:00 p.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +107.16 (+2.57{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,277.86

  • Dow (^DJI): +652.65 (+2.00{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 33,285.29

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +459.99 (+3.59{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 13,255.55

  • Crude (CL=F): -$14.10 (-11.40{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $109.60 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$49.40 (-2.42{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,993.90 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +7.6 bps to yield 1.9480{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

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1:11 p.m. ET: Crude oil prices sink, Brent drops more than 12{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} after Ukraine official says country is ‘ready for a diplomatic solution’

Prices for West Texas intermediate and Brent crude oil prices sank Wednesday afternoon after a Ukrainian foreign policy aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the country was “ready for a diplomatic solution,” according to an interview with Bloomberg Television.

“Our first and foremost pre-condition for having such kind of negotiations is immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of Russian troops,” Ihor Zhovkva, deputy chief of staff to Zelenskiy, told Bloomberg. He added, however, that Ukraine would not trade “a single inch” of Ukrainian territory to Russia, and noted that Ukraine will continue to pursue NATO membership.

Zelenskiy also reiterated to German media outlet Bild TV Wednesday that he believed “only after the direct talks between the two presidents can we end this war,” referring to discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. For now, Zelenskiy has not had direct contact with Putin.

Brent crude oil prices dropped more than 12{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to trade just above $112 per barrel, while West Texas intermediate sank to hover just over $111 per barrel.

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10:47 a.m. ET: Bitcoin prices jump 9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, topping $42,000 after Biden announces crypto regulation executive order

The White House on Wednesday unveiled President Joe Biden’s executive order creating a framework for agencies to study and come up with a government-wide approach to regulating cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin prices jumped nearly 10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to top $42,000 following the announcement, which had been hinted at for weeks now. The executive order was originally set to be signed last month, though the timing was shifted due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Yahoo Finance’s Jennifer Schonberger reported.

One of the key tenets of the order calls for the government to explore a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

“The Order directs the U.S. Government to assess the technological infrastructure and capacity needs for a potential U.S. CBDC in a manner that protects Americans’ interests,” according to the White House. “The Order also encourages the Federal Reserve to continue its research, development, and assessment efforts for a U.S. CBDC, including development of a plan for broader U.S. Government action in support of their work.”

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10:14 a.m. ET: Job openings hold near record high in January: JOLTS

U.S. job openings held at a near-record level in January, with widespread labor shortages still weighing on the domestic economy while keeping leverage high for workers looking to switch jobs.

Vacancies totaled 11.263 million in the first month of 2022, the Labor Department said in its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) on Wednesday. This compared to an upwardly revised 11.4 million openings in December, which marked a record in data going back to 2001. Consensus economists were looking for 10.950 million vacancies for January, according to Bloomberg consensus data.

The number of quits in January edged down just slightly, or by 151,000 compared to December, to reach 4.3 million. And the quits rate decreased to 2.8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, which was still elevated but retreated from December’s record high of 3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.

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9:32 a.m. ET: Stocks open sharply higher, Nasdaq gains more than 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

The three major indexes posted a rebound Wednesday morning to pare some recent declines as investors eyed the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and mounting global sanctions.

The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq moved sharply higher Wednesday morning. Technology stocks led the way higher, helping the Nasdaq jump more than 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. The Dow added more than 500 points, or 1.8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. In the S&P 500, the consumer discretionary, information technology and financial sectors led the way higher.

Treasury yields rose across the curve as peak concerns over U.S. and global economic growth came down, and investors rotated back toward risk assets. The benchmark 10-year yield rose by nearly 4 basis points to break above 1.9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.

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7:22 a.m. ET: Stocks point to a higher open, Dow futures gain 450+ point

Here’s where markets were trading Wednesday morning:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +64.75 points (+1.55{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,233.50

  • Dow (^DJI): +459.00 (+1.41{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 33,061.00

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +257.50 (+1.94{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 13,524.50

  • Crude (CL=F): -$2.81 (-2.27{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $120.89 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$21.60 (-1.06{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $2,021.70 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +3.9 bps to yield 1.91{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

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6:10 p.m. ET Tuesday: Stock futures open lower

Here’s where stocks were trading Tuesday evening:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): -11.50 points (-0.28{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,157.25

  • Dow futures (YM=F): -44 points (-0.13{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 32,558.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): -53.25 points (-0.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 13,213.75

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 08: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 08, 2022 in New York City. The Dow was up slightly in morning trading as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to unsettle global markets. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 08: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 08, 2022 in New York City. The Dow was up slightly in morning trading as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to unsettle global markets. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Emily McCormick is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter

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