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Daily Markets Update: Nasdaq Hits Record as Yields Top 5.3%, TSX Flat, Loonie Near 70¢

  S&P/TSX 35,518.55 +0.04% S&P 500 7,773.99 +0.66% Nasdaq 27,477.31 +1.05% Brent US$100.42 -1.8% USD/CAD 1.4250 Flat US 10-yr 5.315% +3.8 bp Monday, October 5 close, with Asia’s Tuesday session. Wall Street’s tech rally pushed the Nasdaq to a fresh record on Monday even as long-term bond yields kept climbing: the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield settled at 5.315%, a new 52-week high. Canada’s TSX barely moved, with tech gains offsetting a slide in energy and financials, and Cenovus fell after unveiling a C$5.7-billion takeover of Athabasca Oil. Oil dropped nearly 2% as G7 emergency stock releases and rising Middle East exports eased supply fears, and the loonie hovered near 70 U.S. cents, close to its weakest level in about 18 months. Canada: TSX Flat as Tech Offsets Energy Index / Stock Close Change S&P/TSX Composite 35,518.55 +0.04% Shopify (SHOP) — +5.7% Athabasca Oil (ATH) — +13.5% Cenovus Energy (CVE) C$44.86 -3.0% Suncor Energy (SU) — -1.2% The TSX added 15.90 points ...

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Retail Sales Flat in April, Missing Expectations

American shoppers are showing signs of spending fatigue, with retail sales data for April coming in sharply below expectations. According to the Commerce Department, U.S. retail sales were unchanged from March, missing the anticipated 0.4% increase that economists surveyed by the Journal had expected. This slowdown follows a 0.6% month-over-month increase seen in March, highlighting concerns about the state of the consumer amid sticky inflation and higher interest rates.

Key Points:

  • Flat Retail Sales: In April, retail sales remained stagnant, failing to meet the projected growth.
  • Excluding Auto and Gas: Sales declined by 0.1%, falling short of the expected 0.1% increase.
  • Sector Performance:
    • Nonstore retailers led the declines, dropping 1.2% from the previous month.
    • Sporting goods and hobby stores also declined by 0.9%.
    • Clothing and accessories stores saw a 1.6% rise in sales.
    • Gasoline sales picked up by 3.1%.
  • Economic Context: Economists are closely monitoring consumer spending amid the Federal Reserve’s pivot to keep interest rates high for longer than expected.

This situation underscores the delicate balance between consumer demand, inflation, and monetary policy. As we await further context, it’s clear that retail sales are a critical indicator to watch in the current economic landscape.


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