Tech Nudges US Stocks Higher; Bonds Pare Drop: Markets Wrap

US stocks rose modestly even after strong inflation data from Europe strengthened the case for further rate hikes that will slow one of the world’s largest economies. Bonds pared earlier declines.

(Bloomberg) — US stocks rose modestly even after strong inflation data from Europe strengthened the case for further rate hikes that will slow one of the world’s largest economies. Bonds pared earlier declines.

The S&P 500 climbed after fluctuating earlier in the session, buoyed by gains in technology companies. The underlying gauge is still headed for a drop of more than 2% in February. The Nasdaq 100 rose more than 0.5%.

Among individual movers, Target Corp. rose even after its strong fourth quarter was offset by a cautious forecast. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. tumbled the most intraday since September after its annual forecast disappointed.  

Treasury yields pared an earlier advance that saw the 10-year benchmark pushing closer to 4%, a level closely watched by traders. European bonds also trimmed the drop they suffered after France and Spain reported inflation that topped estimates. A dollar index wavered.

“Right now, this is exactly the type of trade that I’m generally expecting to be what we have to deal with, at least here in the near term,” said Shawn Cruz, head trading strategist at TD Ameritrade. “And that is really just choppiness as we get closer to what a lot of people see as the inflection point of will we get some form of a recession, and where is the Federal Reserve going to peak out at?”

Risk assets have been pressured by central-bank warnings that interest rates need to rise further and remain elevated until inflation reverts toward long-term targets. Bond traders no longer view the odds of a Fed rate cut this year as better-than-even, a shift from what they were expecting just a month ago. 

Traders are now pricing US rates to peak at 5.4% this year, compared with about 5% just a month ago. Market expectations also see the European Central Bank raising rates through February 2024, with a 4% ECB terminal rate fully priced.

“This whipsaw between narratives this year – Fed pause hopes being constructive for high beta assets, recession realities being the opposite – will continue,” Lauren Goodwin, economist and portfolio strategist at New York Life Investments, wrote in a note. “For this reason, and because the hurdle rate for keeping up with inflation is so high, we believe it’s important for investors to stay invested, leveraging resilient themes.”

Traders are also, once again, sifting through a bevy of economic data on Tuesday. US consumer confidence declined in February because of concerns about the outlook for jobs, incomes and business conditions. US home prices, meanwhile, fell for a sixth consecutive month.

Elsewhere, prices of oil rose as sanctions against Russia complicate purchases for the few buyers of the crude that remain.

Key events this week:

  • China manufacturing PMI, non-manufacturing PMI, Caixin manufacturing PMI, Wednesday
  • Eurozone S&P Global Eurozone Manufacturing PMI, Wednesday
  • US construction spending, ISM Manufacturing, light vehicle sales, Wednesday
  • Eurozone CPI, unemployment, Thursday
  • US initial jobless claims, Thursday
  • Eurozone S&P Global Eurozone Services PMI, PPI, Friday

Some of the main moves in markets:

Stocks

  • The S&P 500 rose 0.3% as of 1:24 p.m. New York time
  • The Nasdaq 100 rose 0.6%
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%
  • The MSCI World index rose 0.4%

Currencies

  • The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed
  • The euro fell 0.2% to $1.0591
  • The British pound rose 0.1% to $1.2078
  • The Japanese yen rose 0.2% to 135.93 per dollar

Cryptocurrencies

  • Bitcoin rose 0.5% to $23,504.25
  • Ether rose 0.9% to $1,642.44

Bonds

  • The yield on 10-year Treasuries advanced two basis points to 3.93%
  • Germany’s 10-year yield advanced seven basis points to 2.65%
  • Britain’s 10-year yield advanced two basis points to 3.83%

Commodities

  • West Texas Intermediate crude rose 2.2% to $77.31 a barrel
  • Gold futures rose 0.7% to $1,837.30 an ounce

This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.

–With assistance from Peyton Forte, Angel Adegbesan, Cecile Gutscher and Alice Atkins.

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