NYSE
S&P 500 futures were marginally higher while the futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down just 11 points. The Nasdaq 100 futures were up less than 0.1%.
In the regular trading day, the Dow fell more than 300 points, or 0.6%, while the S&P 500 lost 0.6%. The Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.7%. Thursday marked the fourth straight losing day for the three major averages.
Week to date, the Dow is on pace for a 2.5% decline, while the S&P 500 is heading for a 1.6% loss. The Nasdaq is also on track for a 1.6% slide.
On Thursday, stocks were weighed down by surging oil prices, as West Texas Intermediate crude futures jumped over $100 per barrel. Both U.S. oil and international Brent crude futures both posted their highest settlement prices since May 19 as the conflict between the U.S. and Iran continued into a seventh month.
Rates surged alongside oil prices, with the 10-year note yield topping 4.95% and hitting the highest level since October 2023.
Traders also weighed August’s producer price index, a gauge of wholesale inflation, on Thursday. The metric rose 0.4% on the month and advanced 5.4% on an annual basis.
All eyes are on the upcoming consumer price index reading for August, due Friday. Economists polled by Dow Jones anticipate a 0.4% increase on a monthly basis and an annual rate of 3.4%. This pivotal report that will factor into the Federal Reserve’s Sept. 16 decision on interest rates. Fed funds futures trading suggests a roughly 71% likelihood of a rate hike, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch tool.
The outcome of the CPI report will be key as to whether the Fed holds steady or raises rates next week, said Christopher Hodge, chief economist of the U.S. at Natixis CIB Americas.
“A reading in line with consensus would represent the fourth consecutive month of encouraging inflation readings and ease pressure for a hike by the Fed in September,” he said. “If inflation comes in hotter than consensus, we expect a hike at next week’s meeting.”
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