Stock Market Today: Mixed Open for U.S. Markets; Consumer Confidence Rebounds, Fed Official Suggests Rate Hikes
U.S. stock markets opened mixed on Wednesday as strong consumer confidence data and a Federal Reserve official's comments about potential rate hikes influenced investor sentiment.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite reached another record close on Tuesday, but it looks set to be hit alongside the broader market by the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond climbing to 4.574% early Wednesday, continuing its rise from the previous day.
Key Events
Consumer confidence rebounded in May with an index reading of 102, according to data released by the Conference Board on Tuesday. This marked a return to growth after three consecutive monthly declines. Meanwhile, Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari suggested that the Fed would hold rates as long as necessary to combat inflation and even increase them if needed.
U.S. stocks ended mixed on Tuesday, with equities coming under pressure amid a bond sell-off sparked by two weak Treasury note auctions. The benchmark S&P 500 bounced off its session low and closed 0.02% higher at 5,306.04 points.
The Nasdaq Composite scaled the 17,000 points mark for the first time ever and closed 0.59% higher at 17,019.88 points.
U.S. Treasury yields jumped as traders sold off bonds after a $69B 2-year and a $70B 5-year note auction both tailed.
The longer-end 30-year and 10-year yields were both up 8 basis points each to 4.66% and 4.55%, respectively, while the shorter-end 2-year yield gained 4 basis points to 4.98%.
Dick's Sporting Goods reported earnings of $3.30 per share on revenue of $3.02 billion in its latest quarter, surpassing analyst expectations.
Facts from Each Source Article:
- The Federal Reserve's Minneapolis President, Neel Kashkari, suggested the Fed will hold rates as long as necessary to combat inflation and even increase them if needed.
- Bond yields continued to rise with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond reaching 4.574% early Wednesday.
Background Information: The U.S. stock markets have been on a five-week win streak, but have recently stalled near record levels due to uncertainties over interest rate cuts.
Note: The article does not contain any biased or deceptive information.