Dow Jones Industrial Average tilts further into the green on Friday

The Dow Jones climbed into 46,250 on Friday, adding another bullish day on the backend.
Equities have risen after the Fed trimmed interest rates through the midweek.
Coming up next week: PMI survey results and another round of PCE inflation data.

Joshua Gibson FXStreet

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) chalked in another slim but decisive gain on Friday, bringing the major equity index’s weekly performance to around a full percentage point gain. The Dow Jones has climbed into record highs on the back of the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) latest rate cut, and investors are positioning themselves for a series of consecutive follow-up cuts through the end of the year.

Dow climbs on Fed support

The Dow Jones has thus far put in a stellar performance, especially for late in the third quarter. While September is typically a soft season for equities, this September has bucked the trend. The Dow Jones is up over 1.6% for the month, marking in a string of high-water marks, and is on pace to close in the green for a fifth straight month.

Most sectors are on the high side for Friday, with tech stocks taking their usual place at the front of the pack, climbing 0.72% for the day. Consumer discretionary stocks took second place, rising around 0.5%, while energy stocks suffered a decline of around 1.45%.

Fresh batch of inflation data in the pipe

With the Fed’s long-awaited initial interest rate cut finally in the books, traders will have to pivot back to data watching next week. The latest round of S&P Global Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) survey results are due next Tuesday; US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is scheduled for next Thursday; and an update to US Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCE) inflation is slated for next Friday.

Dow Jones daily chart

Economic Indicator

S&P Global Manufacturing PMI

The S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), released on a monthly basis, is a leading indicator gauging business activity in the US manufacturing sector. The data is derived from surveys of senior executives at private-sector companies from the manufacturing sector. Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month and can anticipate changing trends in official data series such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), industrial production, employment and inflation. A reading above 50 indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding, a bullish sign for the US Dollar (USD). Meanwhile, a reading below 50 signals that activity in the manufacturing sector is generally declining, which is seen as bearish for USD.

EUR/USD weakens as US jobs data trims Fed rate cut bets

The EUR/USD pair trades in negative territory for the third consecutive day near 1.1860 during the early European session on Thursday. Traders will keep an eye on the US weekly Initial Jobless Claims data. On Friday, the attention will shift to the US Consumer Price Index inflation report.

GBP/USD bullish outlook prevails above 1.3600, UK GDP data looms

The GBP/USD pair gains ground near 1.3635, snapping the two-day losing streak during the early European session on Thursday. The preliminary reading of UK Gross Domestic Product for the fourth quarter will be closely watched later on Thursday. The UK economy is estimated to grow 0.2% QoQ in Q4, versus 0.1% in Q1.

Gold remains on the defensive below two-week top; lacks bearish conviction amid mixed cues

Gold sticks to modest intraday losses through the Asian session on Thursday, though it lacks follow-through selling and remains close to a nearly two-week high, touched the previous day. The commodity currently trades above the $5,070 level, down just over 0.20% for the day, amid mixed cues.

UK GDP set to post weak growth as markets rise bets on March rate cut

Markets will be watching closely on Thursday, when the United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics will release the advance estimate of Q4 Gross Domestic Product. If the data land in line with consensus, the UK economy would have continued to grow at an annualised pace of 1.2%, compared with 1.3% recorded the previous year.

The market trades the path not the past

The payroll number did not just beat. It reset the tone. 130,000 vs. 65,000 expected, with a 35,000 whisper. 79 of 80 economists leaning the wrong way. Unemployment and underemployment are edging lower. For all the statistical fog around birth-death adjustments and seasonal quirks, the core message was unmistakable. The labour market is not cracking.

Sonic Labs’ vertical integration fuels recovery in S token

Sonic, previously Fantom (FTM), is extending its recovery trade at $0.048 at the time of writing, after rebounding by over 12% the previous day. The recovery thesis’ strengths lie in the optimism surrounding Sonic Labs’ Wednesday announcement to shift to a vertically integrated model, aimed at boosting S token utility.