The stock market showed mixed responses as the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting minutes reinforced its hawkish stance on interest rates amidst ongoing inflationary pressures. This commitment to restrictive monetary policies, aimed at achieving a 2% inflation target, has caused uncertainty in the markets. With the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite each reacting differently, the focus now shifts to corporate earnings in the housing and retail sectors, as well as the upcoming UK Autumn Statement set for midday UK time.

Key Takeaways

Indices React to Fed’s Stance: The Dow edged down by 0.2%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq Composite decreased by 0.6%.

Fed Emphasizes Restrictive Policies: The Federal Reserve maintains interest rates between 5.25% and 5.5%, reinforcing its dedication to controlling inflation.

Specific Equity Movements:

  • Nvidia, beat its earnings expectations, with earning reports of $4.02 per share, adjusted vs. $3.37 per share expected. The company’s revenue also exceeded predictions, earning $18.12 billion vs. $16.18 billion expected.
  • Lowe’s shares fell by 3.1% following its latest earnings report.
  • Amazon’s stock declined by 1.5%, possibly due to former CEO Jeff Bezos continuing to sell shares, after he sold 1.67 million shares last week.
  • American Eagle shares tumbled nearly 16% after weaker-than-expected results.

Housing Market Shows Slowdown: Existing home sales experienced a 13-year low, falling by 4.1% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.79 million units. This could be a reflection of high mortgage rates and housing shortages. 

European Markets Remain In Slump: The Stoxx 600 index closed down 0.1% after two flat sessions this week. Retail stocks gained by 0.7%, while autos stocks fell by 1.6%. This marked another mixed day for European markets.

FX Today

  • EUR/USD Loses Momentum, Holds Above 1.0900: The EUR/USD pair has shown signs of losing momentum but continues to hold above the 1.0900 level. It bottomed at 1.0899 following the release of the FOMC minutes, then climbed toward 1.0920. Despite the recent pullback, the trend continues to point upward, with the price remaining firm above key Simple Moving Averages on the daily chart​​.
  • EUR/GBP Sharply Declines: The EUR/GBP pair fell by half a percent, experiencing its worst trading day since July. This decline followed hawkish comments from Bank of England policymakers, sending the Euro towards the 0.8700 handle and into a lower trading range with little recovery heading into Wednesday’s session​​.
  • Canadian Dollar Gains but Momentum Limited: The Canadian Dollar saw a rise against the US Dollar in Tuesday’s trading, but its upward momentum remains thin. The USD/CAD pair showed hesitation after slipping below the 1.3700 handle, with technical support stacked from the 50-day SMA near 1.3665 and the 200-day SMA rising from 1.3500​​.
  • Gold Approaching Critical Resistance: Spot Gold surged, rising from below $1980 to near the key resistance area of $2010. To avoid a sharp correction, gold needs to break through this $2010 level. From there resistance levels can be found at $2,022 and $2,030. Support levels are at $1,995, $1,984 and $1,979. The metal’s upward trajectory is supported by technical indicators like the Momentum crossing the midline and the Relative Strength Index moving north, still comfortably away from overbought levels​​.
  • Oil Market Fluctuations: Crude Oil is trading in the region of $77.00 per barrel, reflecting a cautious market sentiment influenced by global supply concerns and demand forecasts. This price point is crucial for the energy sector and impacts currencies like the Canadian Dollar, which often correlates with oil price movements​​.

Trading Strategies

  • Equity Market Opportunities: Investors are advised to closely watch tech stocks like Nvidia and retail giants like Amazon and Lowe’s for potential investment opportunities.
  • Forex Market Dynamics: The EUR/USD, EUR/GBP, and CAD/USD pairs should be monitored for resistance and support levels, especially in light of the Federal Reserve’s statements and the UK Autumn Statement.
  • Commodities and Real Estate: The real estate sector, alongside commodities like oil and gold, presents unique opportunities for investors considering the current economic climate.

In conclusion, the stock market’s response to the Fed’s unwavering policy stance and economic indicators from the housing and retail sectors, coupled with international events like the UK Autumn Statement, suggests a complex investment landscape. Investors are encouraged to adopt a diversified strategy, keeping a close eye on these evolving market conditions.

This material is for general information purposes only and is not intended as (and should not be considered to be) financial, investment or other advice on which reliance should be placed. INFINOX is not authorised to provide investment advice. No opinion given in the material constitutes a recommendation by INFINOX or the author that any particular investment, security, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.

All trading carries risk.