Stocks manage to hold onto gains during volatile post-Fed session

Stocks manage to hold onto gains during volatile post-Fed session

Stocks completed Thursday’s trading session bigger for the duration of a volatile session that followed the Federal Reserve’s signal on Wednesday that the central bank’s charge hiking campaign may perhaps be nearing an stop amid worries about steadiness in the international banking procedure.

At the closing bell on Thursday the S&P 500 (^GSPC) was up .3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, the Dow Jones Industrial Regular (^DJI) larger by .2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, and the know-how-significant Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) was bigger by 1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. Previously in the session, all three important averages had been greater by more than 1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} with the Nasdaq up a lot more than 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, and in afternoon trade both the S&P and Dow tipped into red figures.

Financial institution shares remained a supply of stress on Thursday, with the KBW Regional Financial institution Index (^KRX) falling virtually 3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} with regional banking companies such as Initial Republic (FRC), KeyCorp (Vital), and Comerica (CMA) all slipping extra than 6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.

Crude oil was underneath force on Tuesday with WTI crude slipping additional than 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to as minimal as $69.20 for each barrel after buying and selling nearer to $71 before in the day. This places oil back in the vicinity of its most affordable amounts because November 2021.

The 10-12 months Treasury produce also came in a bit Thursday, falling 9 foundation point to settle in the vicinity of 3.40{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and continuing a go lower in yields started off Wednesday next the Fed’s newest financial forecasts proposed fee hikes are closer to ending than previously expected.

On Wednesday, the Fed elevated the target variety for its benchmark desire level by .25{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} as expected, bringing the range for the fed money rate to 4.75{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}-5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, the best due to the fact October 2007.

Up to date financial projections from the Fed, having said that, advised only a single extra .25{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} rate hike is most likely this yr, a forecast that is in-line with what the central lender claimed in December but a reversal from Fed Chair Jay Powell’s signaling previously this month that rates would probable want to go “greater than beforehand expected.”

U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell arrives for a news conference after the Fed raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point following a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) on interest rate policy in Washington, U.S., March 22, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis

U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell comes for a information conference soon after the Fed elevated curiosity costs by a quarter of a share issue following a two-working day conference of the Federal Open up Sector Committee (FOMC) on interest level policy in Washington, U.S., March 22, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis

“The final result of the March Federal Open up Market Committee (FOMC) meeting was broadly as we anticipated,” wrote Lender of America economists led by Michael Gapen. “That explained, the Fed has taken on board some volume of tightening in credit rating standards and conditions as a consequence of the modern stresses that emerged from a number of regional banking institutions.”

Speaking in a push meeting following Wednesday’s plan announcement, Powell said some of these tighter financial ailments would have the “same influence” as elevating desire costs. As a consequence, Powell mentioned a number of Fed officers ended up like the lender disaster and fiscal market fallout in their forecast for less charge hikes around the equilibrium of this yr.

“Powell trapped with the Fed’s narrative that there is nonetheless a route toward a tender-landing or returning inflation to target without the need of pushing the financial state into a recession,” wrote Ryan Sweet, Chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, in a notice on Wednesday. “Even so, that path has grow to be narrower simply because of the pressure on the banking program.”

Absent from the index-stage reaction to Wednesday’s Fed information, quite a few significant tickers linked to the crypto market were on the move following news due to the fact Wednesday’s near.

Coinbase (COIN) stock fell 14{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} on Thursday following the company disclosed late Wednesday it gained a Wells Recognize from the SEC, which warns businesses of pending motion from the regulator. Shares of Coinbase fell as significantly as 18{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} previously in the session.

Shares of Block (SQ), the payments corporation previously regarded as Sq., had been also less than stress Thursday, falling 14.8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} soon after quick-vendor Hindenburg Research produced a new report on the organization which alleged up to 75{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of the firm’s accounts ended up in some type fraudulent or next accounts from present end users.

In a statement on Thursday afternoon, Block termed Hindenburg’s report “factually inaccurate” and explained it would perform the SEC and examine authorized steps it may perhaps just take versus the firm.

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Stocks close higher after volatile session

Stocks close higher after volatile session

U.S. stocks rose Wednesday following back-and-forth buying and selling as buyers weighed a batch of financial information and minutes from the Federal Reserve’s December coverage conference.

The S&P 500 (^GSPC) received .8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in a volatile session, even though the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) extra 130 details, or .4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. The technological know-how-large Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) highly developed .7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.

A readout of conversations from the U.S. central bank’s December accumulating indicated Fed officials ended up reticent an “unwarranted” easing of fiscal situations could backtrack their attempts to restore price tag stability, when also acknowledging the require for extra coverage versatility.

“Participants observed that, for the reason that financial policy worked importantly via fiscal marketplaces, an unwarranted easing in fiscal circumstances, specifically if driven by a misperception by the general public of the committee’s reaction functionality, would complicate the committee’s hard work to restore price stability,” minutes of the Fed’s December 13-14 meeting said.

Policymakers set to convene once more January 31-February 1 and predicted to supply the initial price improve of 2023 and eighth of the latest hiking cycle at the conclusion of discussions. Past month, the Fed lifted desire rates by 50 foundation details, bringing complete will increase to its benchmark plan charge to 4.25{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in 2022.

“The Fed minutes are a fantastic reminder for investors to anticipate prices to remain higher in the course of all of 2023,” Mike Loewengart, head of design portfolio construction at Morgan Stanley’s Worldwide Financial commitment Place of work, said in emailed feedback. “Base line is that even while we flipped the calendar, the sector headwinds from previous yr continue being.”

Earlier in the working day, the most up-to-date Career Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, confirmed 10.5 million occupation vacancies in November — a lot more than forecast — pointing to continued labor market momentum inspite of monetary tightening by the Fed. Meanwhile, the ISM Production PMI fell for a next consecutive thirty day period to 48.4 in December from 49 in November, the most important decline due to the fact May well 2020.

The moves Wednesday follow a bleak start to 2023 investing as quite a few of last year’s pressures observe investors into the new yr. On Tuesday, all 3 key averages shut reduced.

Meanwhile in certain market place moves, Microsoft (MSFT) shares fell 4.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to the cheapest level given that November after UBS downgraded the stock to Neutral from Get and lower its selling price target by $50 to $250 in excess of considerations about the company’s cloud-computing organization, a critical driver of earnings.

All eyes were being on Tesla (TSLA) yet again Wednesday following shares plunged 12{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in the initial buying and selling day of 2023 Tuesday. It marked Tesla’s most important fall in more than two several years and erased all the recovery gains created in the closing three classes of 2022 past week. Shares rose 5.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} on Wednesday.

The electric powered carmaker earlier this week described car or truck output and shipping and delivery figures for the fourth quarter that disappointed Wall Street, piling on a different woe for investors previously weighing problems in excess of manufacturing at Tesla’s China plant and CEO Elon Musk’s administration of Twitter.

Shares of Alibaba Group (BABA) soared 13.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} right after billionaire co-founder Jack Ma won acceptance from Chinese regulators to elevate 10.5 billion yuan — or $1.5 billion — for subsidiary Ant Group’s shopper finance small business. Other U.S.-shown Chinese stocks also gained.

Salesforce (CRM) on Wednesday declared restructuring designs that incorporated slicing about 10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} of its workforce and closing some of its workplaces, becoming a member of a escalating checklist of know-how firms laying off staff to cut expenses after overhiring during the publish-pandemic growth in 2021. Shares advanced 3.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.

Somewhere else in other marketplaces, U.S. Treasury yields fell, with the benchmark 10-calendar year take note dropping 11 foundation points to yield all over 3.68{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, though the 2-year yield was down about 5 foundation factors to 4.36{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.

The U.S. dollar index also fell. And oil selling prices ongoing to sink, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures — the U.S. benchmark — plunging almost 5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to all over $73 for every barrel.

NEW YORK - JANUARY 03: Exterior view of the New York Stock Exchange on Wall street  during the 2023 First Trading Day at the NYSE in New York City,  January 03, 2023. (Photo by Kena Betancur/VIEW press)

NEW YORK – JANUARY 03: Exterior check out of the New York Inventory Trade on Wall street throughout the 2023 Very first Trading Working day at the NYSE in New York Town, January 03, 2023. (Picture by Kena Betancur/Look at press)

Buyers are in for a chaotic week of economic facts this shortened very first buying and selling 7 days of the yr. Minutes from the FOMC’s December assembly are thanks out at 2 p.m. ET. The readout is most likely to exhibit the thinking driving the central bank’s “slower but higher” routine after Fed Chair Powell final month signaled that he and colleagues will switch to smaller sized fee hikes but possible a bigger terminal price.

Economic markets capped their worst 12 months considering the fact that 2008 on Friday, as aggressive central financial institution actions to quell inflation and war in Japanese Europe battered shares and bonds. Even as traders transform the website page on 2022, significantly of Wall Street expects additional suffering continues to be in advance.

“What we’ve picked up from our modeling is there is a little bit of a routine adjust using location below the surface area, and what we suggest by that is 2022 was all about the Fed as they tightened economical circumstances to fight inflation” Huw Roberts, head of analytics at Quant Insight, explained to Yahoo Finance Are living on Tuesday.

“But what we’re selecting up on now, is additional sensitivity to the authentic economy – greater sensitivity to development, to inflation anticipations, to industrial metals, and to the credit history cycle – and what that states to us is markets will be spending the early element of 2023 really obtaining anxious about a challenging landing.”

Alexandra Semenova is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Stick to her on Twitter @alexandraandnyc

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Nasdaq powers rally, stocks rise for third straight session

Nasdaq powers rally, stocks rise for third straight session

U.S. shares slumped Wednesday immediately after weak earnings from Alphabet (GOOGL) and Microsoft (MSFT) raised concerns that slowing output could dent corporate revenue in the coming months.

The technological innovation-hefty Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) was down 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, when the S&P 500 (^GSPC) pushed reduced by .7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, breaking 3-day successful streaks for the indices. The Dow Jones Industrial Ordinary (^DJI) ticked greater by .01{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} after seesawing all through the day.

Shares experienced rallied of late, publishing three straight days of gains prior to Wednesday’s selloff. After the closing bell on Tuesday, nonetheless, Microsoft posted its weakest quarterly revenue development in five years as a powerful greenback and slumping Pc profits held back the tech giant’s development. Microsoft shares closed down 7.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, when intraday motion saw the most significant drop since March 2020.

Google guardian Alphabet, in the meantime, posted effects that skipped analysts’ revenue anticipations, while YouTube recorded its initially decline in electronic ad revenue due to the fact the business began reporting the movie unit’s efficiency. The company’s shares shut down much more than 9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, its worst one particular-working day decline considering that 2020.

“The truth of the issue is, we are heading into, whether we want to simply call it a economic downturn or not, we are heading into a softer or tighter macro setting. … You hear this from all the software program sellers,” RBC Capital Marketplaces software program equity analyst Rishi Jaluria informed Yahoo Finance Stay on Tuesday subsequent the quarterly earnings reviews.

“It was disappointing,” Morningstar senior equity analyst Ali Mogharabi explained to Yahoo Finance Stay on Tuesday. The decrease in Youtube’s electronic advertisement revenue was due in section to the “foreign forex headwinds,” but the broader photo in this article is the economic downturn, he described.

“A lot of advertisers are turning into more hesitant. They are it’s possible holding again a minor bit on their ad shelling out. But at the very same time, even all through an financial downturn, you happen to be seeing the value of that electronic transition of that cloud migration,” Mogharabi stated.

Just after Wednesday’s closing bell, Facebook father or mother Meta Platforms (META) also described earnings that skipped anticipations, sending shares nosediving after hrs.

The downturn rippled across the tech sector. Meta Platforms fell 5.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} before its earnings overlook, whilst Amazon (AMZN) dropped 4.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.

While tech shares have been downbeat this calendar year, mega-cap technological know-how shares continue to keep heavyweight above the significant indexes. The 5 major tech firms — Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), Meta Platforms (FB), Apple (AAPL), and Amazon (AMZN) — alone characterize about a quarter of the S&P 500 index’s current market capitalization.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 18: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock exchange during morning trading on October 18, 2022 in New York City. The stock market opened on an upswing with the Dow Jones gaining over 600 points, the S&P 500 jumping 2.20{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and the Nasdaq Composite with a gain of 2.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} adding to the gains that began on Monday.  (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – October 18: Traders get the job done on the ground of the New York Stock exchange in the course of early morning trading on Oct 18, 2022 in New York Metropolis. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Visuals)

In other places in earnings on Wednesday, the automaker Ford (F) claimed earnings that beat on the prime line. Shares fell after hours, nonetheless, as Ford affirmed the base finish of its complete-yr profit forecast.

The market also digested earnings from Chipotle (CMG), which posted outcomes Tuesday that a little bit topped sector expectations. Most of its profits quantities arrived from yet another spherical of menu cost will increase as the organization navigates inflationary pressures. Spotify (Spot), meanwhile, additional much more people on both of those its cost-free and paid tiers than envisioned in the 3rd quarter. The streaming business reported a 19{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} ad-profits improve but stated product sales weakened thanks to the “challenging macro ecosystem.” Spotify sank 13{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} on the day.

At last, Boeing on Wednesday turned the newest corporation to report a third-quarter reduction and revenue that missed analysts’ expectations amid a “challenging setting.”

Also on Wall Street’s plate was Twitter’s drama-crammed acquisition offer. Elon Musk has until eventually Friday evening to shut the deal on his $44 billion acquisition or facial area a lawful struggle at Delaware Chancery Court future thirty day period. Musk posted movie of himself in Twitter headquarters Wednesday.

“Once Twitter offer closes on Friday (which is our expectation) and Musk sells his wanted Tesla stock this 6 thirty day period agonizing overhang will be around and Tesla buyers can ultimately focus on relocating ahead and viewing the following chapter of advancement story take keep into 23 even with macro,” Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives wrote on Twitter subsequent the news on the deal.

In the crypto current market, Bitcoin (BTC) climbed higher than $20,000 for the initial time in about three months as trade quantity moves downward for the quarter.

Yields on the U.S. Treasury bonds were being decreased Wednesday, as the dollar weakened, marking its lowest stage in 3 weeks. As stocks have rebounded in excess of the past week, bonds have ongoing to drop, marking a opportunity disconnect involving a regular market development this yr.

North of the U.S., the Bank of Canada lifted it benchmark amount by by a 50 percent-proportion place from 3.25{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to 3.75{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, the greatest level in just about 14 many years. Economists surveyed experienced anticipated a much larger 75-foundation point boost.

Dani Romero is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Abide by her on Twitter @daniromerotv

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Oil Ends Session at Two-Month High in Volatile, Thin Trading

Oil Ends Session at Two-Month High in Volatile, Thin Trading

(Bloomberg) — Oil settled at the greatest degree considering the fact that March just after a unstable session in which buyers toggled involving bullish underlying fundamentals and fears of using on threat due to inflationary considerations.

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West Texas Intermediate topped $120 a barrel, with the market place putting greater body weight on bullish fundamentals. Goldman Sachs Team Inc. boosted its quarterly price tag estimates expressing that crude requirements to rally further more to achieve the desire destruction necessary for market place re-balancing. Morgan Stanley included that it sees upside to its bull scenario estimate of $150 a barrel in the 3rd quarter.

“The genuine fundamentals in crude, gasoline and diesel continue to be bullish, although price ranges have risen a bit much too considerably way too rapidly,” explained Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of investing at BOK Financial. The Electricity Data Administration revised down their forecasts for gasoline use in its hottest monthly report, but as extended as inventories continue to be so considerably beneath the 5-yr average it’s particularly bullish, he claimed.

Oil hit a 3-month intraday significant on Monday amid rebounding demand from customers from China and a major tightening of the industry subsequent Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Bloomberg Location Commodity Index started the week by mounting to a report, generally driven by normal gasoline and wheat due to renewed offer fears. Adding to provide problems is a forecast by the EIA that the European Union’s most up-to-date Russian ban would outcome in an 18{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} fall in the country’s gas output by stop 2023.

The war in Ukraine has fanned inflation, boosting the cost of every thing from food to fuels. The US is grappling with report pump rates at the get started of its summer driving period, ordinarily a period of peak need, while producing nations are suffering from the soaring price tag of power.

The oil market will probable be in a deficit of 500,000 barrels a day in the 2nd 50 percent of the year, Morgan Stanley analysts Martijn Rats and Amy Sergeant wrote in a report. Goldman wrote in a note that the industry remains in a structural deficit and was even tighter than envisioned in April. The financial institution greater its third-quarter selling price forecast for world wide benchmark Brent to $140 a barrel and its estimate for WTI to $137 for the similar interval.

Typically, analysts are elevating crude forecasts even as world-wide GDP figures are revised reduced simply because of oil offer shortages predicted for the relaxation of the calendar year, reported Rebecca Babin, senior vitality trader at CIBC Non-public Prosperity Administration. Nevertheless she warns, “I am anxious US demand will not are living up to anticipations and we will see demand from customers destruction below.”

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Stocks claw back in another volatile session

Stocks claw back in another volatile session

 

U.S. stocks rebounded in another choppy session Thursday after renewed concerns over the economy and a weak outlook from market bellwether Microsoft (MSFT) weighed on sentiment in earlier trading.

The S&P 500 jumped 0.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, climbing back from a lower open, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average hovered just above breakeven. The tech-heavy Nasdaq extended gains to 1.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} as all three indexes attempt to bounce back from two straight days of losses.

Shares of Microsoft slipped 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} at open after the technology giant lowered its profit and revenue outlook, citing headwinds from from moves in foreign exchange rates, joining other companies that have recently reported grappling with challenging macroeconomic conditions.

Investors also weighed a bevy of employment data. The Labor Department’s latest weekly jobless claims report showed applications for unemployment insurance unexpectedly fell to 200,000 in a sign labor market conditions remain a bright spot in the economy amid mounting worries of a slowdown. On the other hand, job creation in the U.S. private sector dropped off sharply last month to the slowest pace of growth in the COVID-era recovery, according to ADP’s private payrolls report.

Oil prices retreated from a rally earlier this week following reports Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members may boost crude production to offset a sharp drop in Russia’s output under new sanctions by the European Union. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude oil futures each fell more than 3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} Thursday morning.

Wall Street weighed several quarterly reports in the early trade. Pet retailer Chewy (CHWY) saw shares pop more than 12{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} at open after the company reported a surprise profit following Wednesday’s closing bell. Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE) added to a growing list of corporate names slashing forecasts over macroeconomic headwinds from supply chain disruptions, unfavorable currency movements and its exit from Russia. Shares fell roughly 8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} at the start of trading.

More earnings are in store for traders through Friday from companies including Lululemon (LULU), RH (RH) and Okta (OKTA). With earnings season tailing off, investors will take their cue from economic data, with the labor market in focus.

On Wednesday, the April job openings report, also known as JOLTS, reflected a decline in the number of vacancies, a data point the Federal Reserve is likely to view positively as it works to cool the labor market. Manufacturing data from the Institute for Supply Management out Wednesday also pointed to resilience in the economy and suggested fears of downturn may be exaggerated.

The data coincided with market-moving comments from JPMorgan (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon that signaled a grimmer outlook for the U.S. economic picture. At a conference Wednesday, the leader of the largest bank in the U.S. said the economy is facing a “hurricane” as the Federal Reserve moves forward with its monetary tightening plans.

“Are we going to slow down from a growth perspective? Yes, absolutely,” Cornerstone Wealth Group Chief Investment Officer Cliff Hodge told Yahoo Finance Live on Wednesday, commenting on Dimon’s remarks. “Are we going to fall into a recession? Eventually, but I think it is going to take longer to play out.”

In the last session, the Federal Reserve indicated in its periodic “Beige Book” that U.S. economic activity may have cooled in some parts of the country, weighed down by inflation, supply chain snafus and labor shortages.

“Worker shortages are still keeping labor markets tight and businesses understaffed,” LPL Financial Chief Economist Jeffrey Roach said in commentary. “In some districts, firms are freezing hirings, which is consistent with the decline in April job openings reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”

9:30 a.m. ET: Stocks extend losses as weak guidance from Microsoft weighs on tech

Here were the main moves in markets as of 9:30 a.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): -9.61 (-0.23{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,091.62

  • Dow (^DJI): +7.78 (+0.02{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 32,821.01

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): -65.67 (-0.55{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 11,928.79

  • Crude (CL=F): -$1.33 (-1.15{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $113.93 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): S$ettlement Date to $N/A per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -2.3 bps to yield 2.9080{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

9:18 a.m. ET: Another 200,000 Americans filed new claims last week

Applications for unemployment insurance unexpectedly fell in the latest weekly data suggesting labor market conditions remain a bright spot in the economy amid mounting worries of a slowdown.

The Labor Department’s latest weekly jobless claims report showed 200,000 claims were filed in the week ended May 28, coming in below the 210,000 economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected.

Last week, the Labor Department’s weekly data raised concerns among investors that the labor market may be cooling as the Federal Reserve tightens financial conditions.

“Jobless claims were higher a couple weeks ago stoking some fears that the economy had suddenly hit a soft patch, but today’s data indicate that a storm is not brewing in the labor markets,” FWDBONDS Chief Economist Christopher Rupkey said in a note. “Quite the opposite, with the drop in the total number of people receiving unemployment compensation indicating the unemployment rate could drop in tomorrow’s monthly report to a new record low.

9:06 a.m. ET: US private payroll growth sees worst month since April 2020

Job creation in the U.S. private sector dropped off sharply last month to the slowest pace of growth in the COVID-era recovery, pointing to a cooldown in demand for labor amid a backdrop of rising interest rates and tighter financial conditions.

Private-sector payrolls grew by 128,000 in May, ADP said in its closely-watched monthly report on Thursday. This came following an increase of 202,000 jobs added in April, downwardly revised from 247,000 reported in the initial reading. Consensus economists were looking for private payrolls to rise by 300,000, according to Bloomberg data.

ADP’s monthly private jobs report comes ahead of the Labor Department’s official jobs report out Friday. While ADP’s report typically does not serve as a perfect indicator of what to expect in the government-issued data due to differences in survey methodology, the print has often served as a gauge of job growth that took place during a given period.

“Under a backdrop of a tight labor market and elevated inflation, monthly job gains are closer to pre-pandemic levels,” said ADP Chief Economist Nela Richardson.”The job growth rate of hiring has tempered across all industries, while small businesses remain a source of concern as they struggle to keep up with larger firms that have been booming as of late.”

7:12 a.m. ET: Stock futures jump, oil slips ahead of market open

Here’s where the major indexes were in pre-market trading Thursday:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +24.00 (+0.59{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,123.00

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +154.00 (+0.47{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 32,952.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +95.00 (+0.76{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 12,646.00

  • Crude (CL=F): -3.23 (-2.80{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $112.03

  • Gold (GC=F): +$9.90 (+0.54{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,858.60 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +8.00 bps to yield 2.931{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

A trader works on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., May 20, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

A trader works on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., May 20, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Alexandra Semenova is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alexandraandnyc

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Stocks end volatile session flat but log longest weekly losing streak since 2001

Stocks end volatile session flat but log longest weekly losing streak since 2001

U.S. stocks ended a volatile session little changed on Friday, but still logged steep weekly losses. The S&P 500 posted its longest weekly losing streak since the dot-com bubble burst, as concerns over tighter monetary policy and the resilience of the economy and corporate profits in the face of inflation resurged.

The blue-chip index closed out a choppy session higher by just 0.01{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to settle at 3,901.36. This brought the index lower by 18.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} compared to its record closing high of 4,796.56 from Jan. 3 – bringing the S&P 500 within striking distance of a bear market, defined once an index closes at least 20{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} from a recent all-time closing high. On an intraday basis, the S&P 500 was down by as much as 20.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} compared to its Jan. 3 record closing high. The S&P 500 also posted a seventh consecutive weekly loss in its longest losing streak since 2001.

The other major indexes also ended little changed on Friday but lower for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by just 0.03{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, or 8.77 points, to settle at 31,261.90 and log an eighth straight weekly loss. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to close at 11,354.62. Treasury yields sank, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year note falling below 2.8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, while U.S. crude oil prices edged up to more than $112 per barrel.

The latest bout of stock volatility came in the wake of weaker-than-expected earnings results and guidance from some of the major U.S. retailers earlier this week, which appeared to confirm fears that companies were having more difficulty passing on rising costs to consumers. Ross Stores (ROST) late Thursday became the latest major retailer to cut its full-year guidance, joining Walmart (WMT) and Target (TGT) in highlighting the impact inflation and supply chain disruptions have had on profitability. Walmart shares dropped 19.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} this week in the stock’s worst weekly performance on record.

“Unfortunately there’s no safe haven. When we see the news that came out of consumer discretionary and staples … that shows the struggles that companies have regardless of their size,” Eva Ados, ER Shares chief operating officer, told Yahoo Finance Live. “And ironically, these are the sectors, staples and consumer discretionary, that are viewed as safe havens in a bad economic market.”

Nearing a bear market

The S&P 500 has come close to settling 20{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} below its recent record high, which would represent the index’s first bear market since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The Nasdaq Composite had already fallen into a bear market earlier this year, as traders rotated away from growth stocks amid expectations for higher interest rates from the Federal Reserve, which would pressure high-flying tech stocks’ valuations. As of Friday’s close, the Nasdaq Composite had fallen nearly 30{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} from its record high from Nov. 19, 2021. The Dow has fallen into a correction, or drop of at least 10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} from a recent record high, but has not yet reached the threshold of a bear market.

Since World War II, there have been 12 formal bear markets for the S&P 500, and 17 including “near bear markets,” when the index fell more than 19{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, according to LPL Financial Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick. Of these, the average drop was about 29.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, and lasted an average of 11.4 months.

The S&P 500’s latest slide has come amid escalating concerns over decades-high rates of inflation, tighter monetary policy from the Federal Reserve, geopolitical turmoil in Ukraine, and renewed virus-related restrictions in China. And given this confluence of concerns, discussions about the probability of a recession in the U.S. have also increased. While it’s up to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) to formally call a recession, one is usually considered after two consecutive quarters of negative GDP (gross domestic product) growth. The U.S. economy already contracted at a 1.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} annualized rate in the first three months of this year.

“Breaking down bear markets with recession and without recessions shows an interesting development. Should the economy be in a recession, the bear markets get worse, down 34.8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} on average and lasting nearly 15 months,” Detrick wrote in a note. “Should the economy avoid a recession, the bear market bottoms at 23.8{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and lasts just over seven months on average.”

Recession risks

While the S&P 500’s recent declines reflect souring investor sentiment given the uncertain economic backdrop, a slide into bear market does not guarantee a recession. The stock market’s worsening losses, however, have shown investors are increasingly expecting a downturn.

“Historically, the S&P 500 has fallen an average of 29{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} around recession (median of 24{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}),” Keith Lerner, co-chief investment officer and chief market strategist at Truist Advisory Services, wrote in a note early Friday. “With the S&P 500 currently showing a peak-to-trough decline of almost 19{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} [as of Thursday’s close], the market is effectively already pricing in a 60{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}-70{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} chance of recession based on the average and median.”

Strategists at other major firms have also underscored that the S&P 500 has been pricing in an increasing probability of a recession.

“A recession is not inevitable, but clients constantly ask what to expect from equities in the event of a recession,” David Kostin, Goldman Sachs chief U.S. equity strategist, wrote in a note this week. “Our economists estimate a 35{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} probability that the U.S. economy will enter a recession during the next two years and believe the yield curve is pricing a similar likelihood of a contraction. Rotations within the U.S. equity market indicate that investors are pricing elevated odds of a downturn compared with the strength of recent economic data.”

Lerner also noted that based on the average and median declines of the S&P 500 around recessions since World War II, the index could drop this time to as low as between 3,400 and 3,650.

“This would make an unbelievably brutal market feel that much worse, and, of course, markets could go beyond the average,” Lerner noted.

But once a bottom has been put in during a recession, returns tend to be marked. Lerner noted that the average one-year forward return for stocks off a low around a recession is 40{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.

“Said another way, even if stocks went down to 3,400, using the average rebound, stocks would be near 4,800,” Lerner said. “The other thing to remember is stocks tend to bottom several months before a recession is over and often when we hit peak pessimism. This happens when investors think to themselves, ‘I can’t think of one reason for the markets to go up.’ All the headlines are negative.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) during morning trading on May 06, 2022 in New York City. Following a day that saw a drop of over 1000 points over inflation fears, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down over 200 points in morning trading.  (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 06: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) during morning trading on May 06, 2022 in New York City. Following a day that saw a drop of over 1000 points over inflation fears, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down over 200 points in morning trading. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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

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