US markets settle higher on Friday

14 Nov 2022 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Friday as stocks continued to benefit from optimism about the Federal Reserve slowing the pace of interest rate hikes following tamer than expected inflation data. On the heels of the inflation data, private report is currently indicating an 80.6 percent chance the Fed will raise rates by 50 basis points next month compared to the recent 75 basis point rate hikes. Further, buying interest was also generated in reaction to reports that China is loosening some Covid restrictions, reducing quarantine times for inbound travelers. The loosening of curbs came a day after President Xi Jinping led his new Politburo Standing Committee in a meeting on Covid.  On the sectoral front, Steel stocks showed a substantial move to the upside on the news of China easing Covid restrictions, driving the NYSE Arca Steel Index up by 4.3 percent to a five-month closing high. A sharp increase by the price of crude oil also contributed to significant strength among energy stocks, as crude for December delivery surged $2.49 to $88.96 a barrel.

On the economic data front, the University of Michigan released preliminary data showing US consumer sentiment has pulled back much more than expected in November after seeing modest improvements in recent months. The report showed the consumer sentiment index slumped to 54.7 in November after inching up 59.9 in October. Street had expected the index to edge down to 59.5. The much bigger than expected decrease by the headline index was partly due to a steep drop by the current economic conditions index, which tumbled to 57.8 in November from 65.6 in October. The report showed a more modest decrease by the index of consumer expectations, which fell to 52.7 in November from 56.2 in October.

Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 32.49 points or 0.1 percent to 33,747.86, Nasdaq rose 209.18 points or 1.88 percent to 11,323.33 and S&P 500 was up by 36.56 points 0.92 percent to 3,992.93.

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