Wall St ends higher as investors digest economic data ahead of inflation report

It was yet another seesaw today with the indexes up and down like crazy, but at least in positive territory, and the Dow up about 200 midday but then decline in the afternoon to close up 116.  A pause in Treasury yields has brought some relief and, as today’s expert put it, “A little bit of a counter trend rally is to be expected after three or four pretty sharply negative days.”  All are looking to Friday’s PCE report for an up-to-date picture on inflation with “growing anticipation that it won’t run hot.” Meanwhile, nerves are on edge over the increasing likelihood of a government shutdown. Volume was above the 4-week average at 10.7 billion. 

Wall St ends higher as investors digest economic data ahead of inflation report

By Lewis Krauskopf, Ankika Biswas and Shashwat Chauhan

Thu September 28, 2023 4:17 PM

DJ: 33,550.27  -68.61       NAS: 13,092.85  +29.24         S&P: 4,274.51  +0.98       9/27

DJ: 33,666.34  +116.07    NAS: 13,201.28  +108.43       S&P: 4,299.70  +25.19     9/28

Sept 28 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes ended higher on Thursday as investors assessed the latest batch of economic data and as a surge in Treasury yields stalled ahead of a key inflation report.  Investors were also watching developments in Washington to see whether U.S. lawmakers could avert a government shutdown.  The recent move in Treasury yields to 16-year highs has loomed over the stock market, which has pulled back after the Federal Reserve last week signaled a hawkish long-term outlook for interest rates.  The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield pausing at around 4.6% was bringing "relief," said Matt Stucky, senior portfolio manager at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co.  "Markets in general the last few days have been really, really choppy," Stucky said.  "A little bit of a counter trend rally is to be expected after three or four pretty sharply negative days.”

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) rose 116.07 points, or 0.35%, to 33,666.34, the S&P 500 (.SPX) gained 25.19 points, or 0.59%, to 4,299.70 and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) gained 108.43 points, or 0.83%, to 13,201.28.  Among S&P 500 sectors, the communication services (.SPLRCL) group gained 1.2%, while materials (.SPLRCM) rose 1%. The rate-sensitive utilities sector (.SPLRCU) sank 2.2%, continuing its recent slide. 

The S&P 500 has pulled back over 6% since late July, but remains up about 12% for 2023. Data showed the U.S. economy maintained a fairly solid pace of growth in the second quarter.  Separate readings showed initial jobless claims rose slightly last week and a higher-than-expected fall in contracts to buy existing homes in August.  Investors were looking ahead to Friday's personal consumption expenditures price index for the latest view on inflation.  “This is the most important U.S. datapoint this week, and there is a growing anticipation that it won’t run hot,” said Kristina Hooper, chief global market strategist at Invesco.  In Washington, the Democratic-led U.S. Senate forged ahead with a bipartisan stopgap funding bill aimed at averting a fourth partial government shutdown in a decade. The House of Representatives prepared to vote on partisan Republican spending bills with no chance of becoming law.

In company news, Micron Technology (MU.O) shares dropped 4.4% after the chip company forecast a bigger loss than analysts had expected.  Accenture shares slumped 4.3% after the IT services firm forecast full-year earnings and first-quarter revenue below Wall Street targets. 

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 2.2-to-1 ratio on the NYSE. There were 75 new highs and 337 new lows on the NYSE.  On the Nasdaq, advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.5-to-1 ratio. The Nasdaq recorded 39 new highs and 303 new lows.

About 10.7 billion shares changed hands in U.S. exchanges, compared with the 10.3 billion daily average over the last 20 sessions.