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Wall Street Futures Edge Higher as Soft Jobs Data Fuels Rate-Cut Hopes

  US stock futures ticked upward on Wednesday, extending Wall Street’s rebound as investors digested a weaker-than-expected ADP employment report. The data showed a surprise decline in private-sector payrolls, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve may move forward with an interest rate cut at its upcoming December meeting. Market Performance Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose about 0.2%, adding 80 points to 47,624. S&P 500 futures gained 9.25 points to 6,849.50, up 0.14%. Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 25.50 points to 25,631.50, a 0.10% increase. Key Drivers The ADP jobs report revealed a drop in private-sector employment, signaling cooling labor market conditions. This bolstered investor confidence that the Fed will ease monetary policy, with markets pricing in nearly 88% odds of a rate cut next week. Tech stocks continued to provide momentum, with Nvidia and Marvell edging higher. Crypto-linked stocks surged, with PMAX up 67%, CMCT up 30%, a...

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Powell’s Words Rattle Investors

 

US stock futures took a tumble today after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell poured cold water on hopes for an early interest rate cut. As we head into a busy week of corporate earnings, investors are closely watching the impact of Powell’s statements on the recent market rally. S&P 500 ( ^GSPC) futures slipped 0.2%, signaling a pullback from the benchmark’s record-setting run, Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI) futures shed roughly 0.2%. and  Nasdaq 100 ( ^NDX) futures dropped 0.1%.

Powell, in a recent “60 Minutes” interview, reiterated the central bank’s cautious approach to rate cuts. He emphasized that the “danger of moving too soon is the job’s not quite done” in quelling inflation. Traders responded by scaling back their bets on rate cuts, not only for March but also for May, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

US bonds sank, with the 10-year Treasury yield ( ^TNX) rising about six basis points to 4.08%. This move reflects the market’s recalibration of expectations following Powell’s remarks.

Investors are now turning their attention to quarterly results. Last week’s triumphant reports from Meta (META) and Amazon (AMZN) fueled the recent rally. Today, McDonald’s (MCD) disappointed with sales falling short of Wall Street estimates. The coming days will be crucial as a wave of corporate earnings reports determines whether the rally can sustain its momentum.


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