Stocks slipped on Wall Street Monday ahead of some key reports this week on the job market that might provide more insight into the Federal Reserve’s thinking about interest rates. The S&P 500 was off 0.9%. The index is coming off its best month in more than a year, and reached its highest level in more than a year on Friday.
Quick Read
- Stocks Dip on Wall Street: U.S. stocks experienced a decline on Monday, with the S&P 500 down 0.9%, the Dow Jones falling 150 points (0.4%), and the Nasdaq composite dropping 1.5%.
- Treasury Yields Increase: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 4.29%, exerting pressure on stocks. This yield is influential for mortgage rates.
- Tech Companies’ Performance: Major technology companies like Microsoft and Apple saw significant declines in their stock values.
- Corporate Updates: Spotify’s stock surged after announcing layoffs, while Uber’s stock increased after it was announced the company would join the S&P 500 index. Alaska Air Group’s stock slumped following its announcement to acquire Hawaiian Airlines.
- Oil Prices Fall: U.S. crude oil prices saw a slight decrease, contributing to easing inflation pressures.
- Global Market Trends: Markets in Europe and Asia showed mixed results.
- Investor Focus on Economic Reports: Wall Street is anticipating several key economic updates this week, including the November report on the services sector and various jobs market data.
- Expectations from Economic Reports: The upcoming reports will provide insights into consumer spending, job openings, unemployment claims, and overall employment trends in the U.S.
- Anticipation of November Jobs Report: The government’s monthly jobs report for November, due Friday, is expected to show an addition of 175,000 jobs, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 3.9%.
- Federal Reserve’s Interest Rate Policy: The strong labor market has been a focal point despite the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes. There is a pause in rate increases, with expectations of steady rates into early 2024. The Fed’s next decision will be announced after their meeting on December 13.
The Associated Press has the story:
Wall Street loses ground ahead of key reports on the job market
Newslooks- NEW YORK (AP)
Stocks slipped on Wall Street Monday ahead of some key reports this week on the job market that might provide more insight into the Federal Reserve’s thinking about interest rates.
The S&P 500 was off 0.9%. The index is coming off its best month in more than a year, and reached its highest level in more than a year on Friday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 150 points, or 0.4%, to 36,097 as of 11:20 a.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.5%.
Treasury yields were higher, putting some pressure on stocks. The yield on the 10-year Treasury, which influences mortgage rates, rose to 4.29% from 4.21%.
Technology companies were among the biggest weights on the market. Microsoft fell 2.6% and Apple fell 1.8%.
Spotify surged 7% after announcing its third round of layoffs this year. Uber gained 5.6% after the ride-hailing service was named to join the S&P 500 index.
Alaska Air Group slumped 15.6% after announcing it will buy Hawaiian Airlines in a $1.9 billion deal, a tie-up that would test the Biden administration as it fights consolidation in the airline sector.
U.S. crude oil prices fell 0.3%. Oil prices have been slipping recently, helping ease pressure on inflation.
Markets were mixed in Europe and Asia.
Wall Street is coming off a solid week and a strong November on hopes that inflation is easing enough to allow the Federal Reserve to stop raising interest rates. Investors are also hoping that the economy remains strong enough to avoid a recession.
Investors will get several key updates on the economy this week, including reports on the services sector and the jobs market.
The Institute for Supply Management will release its November report on the services sector on Tuesday. The sector is a key component in the U.S. economy and accounts for the majority of the nation’s jobs. The report could provide more insight into consumer spending and the jobs market.
Wall Street will get several reports this week that focus on the broader employment picture in the U.S. The government will release its October update on job openings on Tuesday and a weekly report on applications for unemployment benefits on Thursday.
Investors will be closely watching the government’s monthly jobs report for November, which is on Friday. Analysts polled by FactSet expect U.S. employers to have added 175,000 jobs last month. They forecast that the unemployment rate remained steady at 3.9%.
The labor market has remained strong in the U.S. even as the Fed has raised interest rates sharply in order to fight inflation by slowing the entire economy. Inflation has been falling since the middle of 2022. The central bank paused raising rates after its most recent increase in late July.
Wall Street expects rates to remain steady into early 2024, when the Fed could begin cutting interest rates back from their highest level in two decades. The Fed’s next decision on rates will follow the close of their next two-day meeting on Dec. 13.
