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.

GBP/USD surrenders some gains, back to 1.3420

GBP/USD holds on to moderate gains above 1.3400 the figure on Friday. Optimism surrounding the UK government’s leadership transition and expectations of further BoE tightening support the British Pound, while easing tensions in the Middle East and fading Fed rate-hike expectations weigh on the US Dollar.

EUR/USD turns positive, targets 1.1450

EUR/USD now picks up pace and advances toward the 1.1440 region on Friday, up modestly for the day. With no major economic data due, lingering uncertainty over the US-Iran conflict keeps investors cautious, limiting the pair's upside.

Gold remains offered, still below $4,100

Gold struggles to extend Thursday’s rebound and navigates below the $4,100 mark per troy ounce on Friday. Uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict limits the precious metal’s upside, which is also under pressure amid rising US Treasury yields across the curve.

Week ahead – US CPI and Warsh testimony to take centre stage, BoC eyed too

US inflation report and Warsh testimony to headline the week. Dollar to dominate amid slew of other US data and Mideast tensions. Amid fresh Iran escalation, China GDP to shed light on Q2 impact. Bank of Canada not expected to follow RBNZ with rate hike.

Five sessions, one round trip: Why the whipsaw is exactly what Warsh ordered

Markets opened July with a December hike as the base case and spent five trading sessions unlearning and relearning it. A 57K payrolls print bled the tightening bets out of the strip; a re-shut Strait of Hormuz is pushing them back in. Wednesday's minutes from the June Federal Open Market Committee meeting landed mid-round-trip, describing a world that had already stopped existing.

Five sessions, one round trip: Why the whipsaw is exactly what Warsh ordered

Markets opened July with a December hike as the base case and spent five trading sessions unlearning and relearning it. A 57K payrolls print bled the tightening bets out of the strip; a re-shut Strait of Hormuz is pushing them back in. Wednesday's minutes from the June FOMC meeting landed mid-round-trip, describing a world that had already stopped existing.