FactSet Evening Market Recap

US equities finished mixed in Wednesday trading, weathering some choppiness after today's FOMC meeting. The Fed delivered on a widely expected 25 basis point rate cut with the dot plot signaling another 50 basis of easing this year, though with a lot of dispersion. In other macro news, August housing starts fell 8.5% month over month, while July was revised down, its slowest pace since May.

US equities finished mostly lower in fairly uneventful Tuesday trading. S&P and Nasdaq came slightly off Monday's record highs. Headline August retail sales rose 0.6% m/m. August housing starts and building permits out on Wednesday morning, followed by FOMC statement, updated SEP and Powell press conference that afternoon. 

US equities finished higher in quiet, rangebound Monday trading, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both setting fresh record closes. It was a very quiet session with no changes to broader market narratives, which are in waiting mode ahead of this week's big macro catalysts. Wednesday's FOMC meeting is the week's main event.

US equities were higher this week with healthy gains across the major indices, though Nasdaq outperformed, supported by Big Tech, while the Russell 2000 underperformed. All eyes are on next Wednesday's FOMC meeting. Employment data was in-focus this week as Fed and broader market scrutiny increases around signs of labor market weakening.

US equities were higher in Thursday trading, near their best levels. The S&P and Nasdaq are both on pace for new all-time-highs, extending Wednesday's record closes. The market narrative today centered on takeaways around economic data, which led to more rate stabilization and a steeper Fed rate cut path.

US equities were mixed in Wednesday trading, though ended off worst levels, with the Dow Jones closing down 48bps, while the S&P500 and Nasdaq rose 30bps and 3bps respectively. Today’s headline August PPI dropped 0.1% m/m vs Street expectations for a 0.3% rise, and core PPI also declined 0.1% m/m against consensus outlook for +0.3% rise. Treasury's sale of $39B in 10Y notes was very well received. Oracle led the market higher after a monster surge in the company's RPO

US equities finished mostly higher in Tuesday trading. Major indices ended near best levels with a notable surge in the last half hour of trading. Benchmark revision to US payrolls spun as more negative than e

US equities were higher in uneventful Monday trading, with the Dow Jones, S&P500, and Nasdaq finishing up 25bps, 21bps, and 45bps respectively. Upside was limited and trading very rangebound, though the Nasdaq still set a fresh record close. Data from the NY Fed showed 1-year inflation expectations up 10bps m/m to 3.2%; noted job replacement/rehiring optimism lowest since June of 2013. Echostar finished up nearly 20% on a deal to sell AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses to SpaceX for around $17B in cash and stock.

US equities were mostly higher for the holiday-shortened week, starting the new month on a risk-off note and by Friday paring back from Wednesday and Thursday strength. Treasuries firmed notably across the curve as expectations grew for more Fed cuts this year

US equities traded higher in Thursday afternoon trading, near their best levels. It was a fairly busy day of headlines and data, but the core market narratives remain mostly unchanged. Conversation around Fed independence remains an overhang, including today's report on DoJ investigation into Cook and Miran's potential move to Governor role while remaining on leave from CEA.

US equities were mixed in Wednesday afternoon trading, near worst levels. The biggest development for today has revolved around big tech strength on the back of the better-than-feared remedies out of the Google Search trial. Elsewhere, rate stabilization was a positive following all of the recent attention on the backup in global bond yields.

US equities were lower in Tuesday trading. Bond yield backup is an overhang as fiscal pressures and political instability remain front and center (globally), while there are also thoughts that the market has not sufficiently priced in Fed independence risk. August ISM manufacturing index of 48.7 was slightly below the 49.2 consensus.

The Market saw a slight pullback this week as several headwinds came into focus: mixed takeaways from Nvidia earnings, looming H2 tariff pressures on corporate profits, concerns over Fed independence, and ongoing cooling labor market worries. Nvidia's Q2 earnings were the week's highlight, with results beating expectations and Q3 guidance above, though not by as much as hoped. Fed independence came under scrutiny after Trump fired Governor Cook over alleged mortgage fraud.

US equities were higher in Thursday trading as stocks ended near best levels, with the Dow Jones, S&P500, and Nasdaq closing up 16bps, 32bps, and 53bps respectively. Q2 GDP was revised up to a 3.3% SAAR from the preliminary read of 3.0%, initial jobless claims printed at 229K, near the 228K consensus, and July pending-home sales were weaker against expectations for some firming. Treasury's $44B auction of 7-year notes tailed very slightly by 0.3bp. Nvidia beat and raised and continued to highlight strong demand for AI compute, but its Data Center segment came in light.

US equities were higher in Wednesday trading, with the Dow Jones, S&P500, and Nasdaq closing up 32bps, 24bps, and 21bps respectively. Market was still in waiting mode for Nvidia results after the close and PCE inflation on Friday. NY Fed's Williams telling CNBC monetary policy is moderately restrictive and data could warrant a gradual reduction in rates. Treasury's auction of $70B in 5s saw a 0.7bp tail, though domestic demand was solid. Earnings results included some well-received prints out of the cloud software space and mixed takeaways surrounding the consumer-facing names.

US equities were higher in very quiet Tuesday trading as stocks ended near best levels. Big development today revolved around Trump's move to oust Fed Governor Cook in the wake of allegations of mortgage fraud. August consumer confidence slightly ahead. 

US equities were mostly lower in very quiet Monday trading. There was nothing particularly incremental from a narrative perspective in the wake of the more dovish leaning remarks from Fed Chair Powell on Friday. In macro news, July new home sales printed at a 652K SAAR, just above consensus, though below June's upwardly revised 656K read, from 627K.

US equities were mixed this week, as the S&P 500 edged out a slight gain to finish higher for a third-straight week, but the tech-heavy Nasdaq was lower for the first time in three weeks. Stocks and treasuries posted a sharp rally on Friday after Fed Chair Powell's Jackson Hole speech. Markets took the comments as cementing a September rate cut, with odds now over 90%, with 53 bps of cuts now priced in through year-end.

US equities were lower in Thursday trading, though off worst levels. August flash manufacturing PMI was well ahead of estimates, back in expansion territory after posting surprise increase, its best since May-22. Flash services PMI was also ahead, its best since Dec-24. However, tariffs pressured input prices higher, with manufacturing second-highest since Aug-22, while average prices charged highest since Aug-22.

US equities were mostly weaker in Wednesday trading, with the Dow Jones ending +4bps, while the S&P500 and Nasdaq closed down 24bps and 67bps respectively. The S&P posted its fourth straight decline, with big tech pullback in focus again. July FOMC minutes showed the majority of officials saw inflation risk outweighing employment risk, though largely seen as stale after July NFP. Retailer earnings the other big story, with takeaways mixed, somewhat idiosyncratic, but largely supporting broader consumer resiliency theme.