US equities finished higher overnight after a choppy session following the release of FOMC meeting minutes, which showed caution among policymakers, fuelling bets that rates would stay steady. The Dow edged higher, up 66 points (+0.19%). Up 143 at best. Down 127 at worst. The S&P 500 rose for a fourth straight session, up 0.43%, and the NASDAQ rose 0.71%
Our market up again – we are four days into this rally with the US CPI number to worry about tonight
ASX 200 limped to a 3-point gain to 7091 (0.04%) ahead of US CPI. Six sessions in a row. Just. CSL was the biggest drag on the index as positive drug trials in US marred outlook for medical companies. The stock fell 6,3%, RMD down 5.3% on same effect.
US equities rose for a third consecutive day following more dovish comments from Fed officials pushing bond yields sharply lower.
The Dovish Pivot has obscured the Hamas-Israeli conflict. The Fed messaging has changed. Is it real, or just a moment?
ASX 200 rose another 48 points to 7088 (+0.7%) up for a fifth consecutive session, bouncing back from 6,890 levels just last Wednesday. Almost all sectors finished higher. Consumer discretionary is the top-performing sector today as RBA rate hike expectations tapered off.
US markets finished higher overnight, recovering earlier losses following fresh remarks from Fed officials bolstering confidence the Fed will refrain from lifting rates this year amid rising oil prices and conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Was that the top for bond yields. The market is behaving as if it was. Up 81 and interest rate sensitive sectors up. The Israel-Hamas conflict suggests we go “Risk Off”. We’re going “Risk On”
ASX 200 blasted 70 points higher to 7041 (+1.0%) as bond yield fell hard on safe-haven buying of bonds. Talk of rate cuts as Israel/Hamas conflict the focus. Gold miners are better but not spectacular, with NST up 1.5% and EVN up 0.3%. Lithium plays bouncing hard as a short squeeze takes hold. PLS up 6.2%, and IGO up 3.5%.
US equities rallied Friday, led by gains in mega-cap tech stocks after non-farm payrolls rose the most in eight months, signalling a tight labour market. The Dow Jones rose 288 points (+0.87%) in a choppy day of trade. Up 438 at best. Down 273 at worst. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ registered their largest daily gain since late August, up 1.18% and 1.6%.