Stocks Extend Gain as ‘Not That Many Bears Left’: Markets Wrap – Yahoo Finance

(Bloomberg) — U.S. equities edged higher on a quiet day of trading ahead of the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium later this week.

The S&P 500 gained and Nasdaq 100 was little changed as the indexes hovered at record highs on low trading volumes. The financial and energy sectors led the gains as Treasury yields rose and crude oil held on to its gains in the week. Meanwhile, stocks in Europe drifted while a gauge of Chinese tech names struggled to extend a rally.

“There are not that many bears left,” Irene Tunkel, chief U.S. equity strategist at BCA Research, said by phone. Pullbacks like last week’s are becoming “shallower and shallower” as more people buy the dip, she said. “There is very, very strong buy-the-dip mentality.”

Company earnings, expanding vaccinations and support from monetary policy have helped repair sentiment after a bout of jitters in the face of climbing delta variant cases. However, the pace of the Fed’s plans to begin tapering its asset purchase program remains a key overhang, which traders seek to get more clarity on when Fed Chairman Jerome Powell speaks virtually on Friday.

Fiona Cincotta, a senior financial markets analyst at City Index, said investors have been “flip flopping” over whether the Fed will make a taper announcement, with current consensus expecting the Fed to delay an announcement until later in the autumn, given the rising Covid cases.

Investors are hoping to gain more insight into the Fed’s thinking on monetary stimulus amid a takeoff in inflation but still-mixed economic reports. The latest data Wednesday showed orders placed with U.S. factories for business equipment unexpectedly stalled in July, marking a pause in a months-long buildup in capital investment.

“Visibility into getting enough product to satisfy demand is a challenge. Managing one’s own rising cost pressures and labor shortages are another,” said Peter Boockvar, Bleakley Advisory Group chief investment officer, noting uncertainty of the recovery. “On the other hand, for those thinking longer term, capital investments must take place.”

Oil gained in New York after the best two-day rally since November. Gold fell below $1,800. And Bitcoin reversed losses to trade higher.

Here are some events to watch this week:

Bank of Korea policy decision; briefing by Governor Lee Ju-yeol ThursdayFed officials attend the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium from Thursday through SaturdayU.S. GDP, initial jobless claims ThursdayJuly U.S. personal income and spending data Friday. Investors will scrutinize the personal consumption expenditures price index, an inflation measure closely watched by the Fed.

For more market analysis read our MLIV blog.

Some of the main moves in markets:

Stocks

The S&P 500 rose 0.3% as of 2:54 p.m. New York timeThe Nasdaq 100 was little changedThe Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2%The MSCI World index rose 0.2%

Currencies

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changedThe euro rose 0.1% to $1.1772The British pound rose 0.2% to $1.3761The Japanese yen fell 0.3% to 110.00 per dollar

Bonds

The yield on 10-year Treasuries advanced five basis points to 1.34%Germany’s 10-year yield advanced six basis points to -0.42%Britain’s 10-year yield advanced six basis points to 0.60%

Commodities

West Texas Intermediate crude rose 1.4% to $68.46 a barrelGold futures fell 0.8% to $1,794.40 an ounce

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/3ksBqqI
via IFTTT