U.S. stock-index futures took a downward turn on Friday, capping off a challenging, holiday-shortened week on a negative note for Wall Street.
Here’s a breakdown of the situation:
- Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM00, 0.00%) slipped 60 points, equivalent to a 0.2% decline, settling at 34,789.
- S&P 500 futures (ES00, 0.02%) saw a drop of 9 points, or 0.2%, to 4,447.25.
- Nasdaq-100 futures (NQ00, 0.01%) experienced a decrease of 38.50 points, equaling a 0.3% drop, landing at 15,438.75.
On the previous day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) gained 58 points, marking a 0.2% increase, while the S&P 500 (SPX) and the Nasdaq Composite (COMP) both declined.
The S&P 500 has now closed lower for three consecutive sessions, during which it has retreated by 1.4%. Nevertheless, it has shown a solid gain of nearly 16% over the course of this year.
Market Factors at Play:
- Several Federal Reserve officials signaled on Thursday that a September rate hike is unlikely, although some, including Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan, suggested that further rate increases might be necessary in the future.
- New York Fed President John Williams expressed satisfaction with the current interest rate levels but emphasized the need to monitor data to manage inflation effectively. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee suggested that the Fed may have nearly completed its interest rate hikes to combat inflation.
- A surprise decline in weekly jobless benefit claims, reminiscent of mid-February levels, was reported on Thursday. This followed a robust reading of a services sector activity gauge, which unsettled investors expecting a gradual economic slowdown to curb inflation.
- Investors have expressed growing nervousness regarding the pace of economic improvement and its potential implications for Fed actions. Tom Lee, Head of Research at Fundstrat, noted this concern among institutional investors.
- Apple’s stock (AAPL, -2.92%) remained steady in premarket trading, despite a recent 6% decline over concerns about Chinese government restrictions on iPhone usage. This situation has had a ripple effect on the broader market.
- Notably, there were no significant economic or corporate releases scheduled for Friday. The main event was San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly’s scheduled speech at 11 a.m. Eastern. Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr spoke at a payments conference at 9 a.m., and the quarterly financial accounts of the U.S. were set to be released at noon.
- Looking ahead, the consumer-price index for August was due to be released on the following Wednesday.
Highlighted Companies:
- DocuSign Inc. (DOCU, -1.23%) saw its stock rise nearly 3% in premarket trading after the e-signature company exceeded earnings expectations and raised its guidance, despite ongoing challenges in business spending.
- Smith & Wesson Brands Inc. (SWBI, -3.04%) reported a notable 35% increase in quarterly sales, causing shares of the firearms manufacturer to surge by more than 12%.
- RH (RH, -1.28%), formerly known as Restoration Hardware, experienced a decline as the company issued a warning about the uncertain prospects of the higher-end housing market it relies on.
