Gov’t Shutdown May Delay Reports

STOCK INDEX FUTURES

The second quarter gross domestic product increased 2.1% quarter-to-quarter when up 2.3% was expected, and personal consumption expenditures on an annualized basis were up 0.8% when a gain of 1.7% was estimated.

Jobless claims in the week ended September 23 were 204,000 when 211,000 were anticipated.

The 9:00 central time August pending home sales index is predicted to show a 0.9% increase.

Traders will closely monitor comments from Fed Chair Powell who will speak at 3:00 this afternoon.

If Congress does not pass a stopgap funding measure before Sunday, a shutdown of some agencies could delay the routine release of economic data on employment, inflation, wages and output.

Stock index futures are oversold at these levels.

CURRENCY FUTURES

Yesterday the U.S. dollar index advanced to the highest level since December 2022 but is lower today.

The bullish influence of the ongoing hawkish Federal Reserve remains the dominant influence.

In addition, there is a flight to safety influence supporting the greenback in light of reports that little if any progress was made on resolving the debt ceiling issue.

Although interest rate differential expectations remain favorable for the greenback, the U.S. dollar index appears to be overbought at these elevated levels.

German inflation fell to its lowest level in two years. Consumer prices advanced 4.3% from a year ago in September, compared with 6.4% in August.

The economic sentiment indicator in the euro area fell slightly to 93.3 in September 2023, which is down from a revised 93.6 in the previous month. However, this surpassed market predictions of 92.5.

Australia’s retail sales increased 0.2% in August, which fell short of the predicted 0.3% gain.

INTEREST RATE MARKET FUTURES

The 30-year Treasury bond futures declined to new lows for the move.

The Treasury will auction 7-year notes today.

Financial futures markets are predicting there is an 81% probability that the Federal Open Market Committee will keep its fed funds rate unchanged and a 19% probability of a 25 basis point increase at its November 1 policy meeting.

 

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