Traders were busy on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on August 20, 2024 in New York City. Stocks on Wall Street rose as minutes from the Federal Reserve meeting and a revision to payrolls raised hopes of a rate cut. The S&P 500 edged up 0.42% and is within 1% of its all-time record close. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.57%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 55.52 points. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell, while U.S. oil prices dropped 1.7% to below $72 a barrel.
Federal Reserve officials are moving closer to an anticipated interest rate cut, with a September reduction looking quite probable. Markets are fully pricing in a September rate cut. Ford Motor is postponing production of a next-generation electric pickup truck and canceling plans for a three-row electric SUV to prioritize hybrid models, resulting in additional expenses. Microsoft plans to introduce its controversial Recall AI search feature for Windows users to test in October.
In Asia markets, the Nikkei 225 in Japan advanced 0.42% and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.26%. South Korea’s Kospi inched lower, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.4%. Brian Arcese of Foord Asset Management advises investors to take a defensive stance due to market volatility and high valuations.
Ford’s decision to slow the pace of its electric vehicle expansion and shift to hybrid technology probably shouldn’t come as a surprise. Amid EV hurdles, the road to net zero emissions by 2050 seems full of challenges. OPEC and the International Energy Agency have differing views on peak oil demand, leading to market volatility concerns. Saudi Arabia is investing in both hybrid and electric ventures to stay competitive in the evolving automotive landscape. In response to the recent release of the Federal Reserve’s minutes from their July meeting hinting at a potential rate cut, the broader market rebounded from earlier losses and saw an increase. LPL Financial chief economist Jeffery Roach pointed out that with the significant downward revision of the nonfarm payroll data, the Fed may consider implementing a more substantial interest rate reduction in September. Roach emphasized that a weakening job market gives the Fed the opportunity to address both aspects of its dual mandate, indicating that investors should anticipate the Fed’s preparation for a rate cut at the upcoming September meeting. He also mentioned that if the job market performs below expectations, it could clear the path for a half-percentage point cut by the Fed in September. The popularity of online shopping has been steadily increasing in recent years. This trend can be attributed to the convenience and ease of shopping from the comfort of one’s own home. With just a few clicks, consumers can browse a wide range of products, compare prices, and make purchases without ever having to leave their house. Additionally, online shopping offers a greater variety of options and the ability to shop at any time of the day or night. As a result, more and more people are choosing to do their shopping online rather than in traditional brick-and-mortar stores.