Stocks concluded the day on a positive note, marking the end of a relatively subdued trading day on Tuesday. Cautious investors deliberated the possibility of the robust November rally being excessive.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) recorded a gain of over 0.2%, and the tech-centric Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) saw an increase of approximately 0.3%. The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) experienced a modest rise of 0.1%.
As November nears its end, investors are contemplating the likelihood of a pullback following a sizzling surge that positioned stocks for their most impressive monthly performance in over a year.
This optimistic sentiment arises as investors speculate that the Federal Reserve has concluded its interest rate hikes. However, conflicting opinions within the central bank were evident in separate speeches from Fed Governor Michelle Bowman and Fed Governor Christopher Waller on Tuesday.
Bowman expressed the belief that the Fed may need to raise rates further to promptly bring down inflation to the 2% target. In contrast, Waller conveyed growing confidence that rates are currently at appropriate levels, though he acknowledged the need for more data. His comments led to a decline in Treasury yields, with the 10-year yield (^TNX) dropping around 5 basis points to approximately 4.34%, a level reminiscent of September.
Investors are proceeding cautiously ahead of crucial economic data releases later in the week. Wednesday will provide an update on third-quarter GDP, while Thursday’s PCE reading on consumer inflation, the Federal Reserve’s favored indicator, will shape expectations for future rate adjustments.
The Conference Board released new data on Tuesday indicating a rise in consumer confidence for November. The index climbed to 102.0, an improvement from the downwardly revised 99.1 in October. Despite this positive trend, the Expectations Index remained below 80 for the third consecutive month, historically signaling an impending recession within the next year, according to the Conference Board.
Simultaneously, investor focus remains on the performance of retailers post-Black Friday, marking the commencement of the holiday shopping season.
Cyber Monday witnessed a surge in online spending, with consumers shelling out $12.4 billion, reflecting a 9.6% increase from the previous year, as per Adobe Analytics’ e-commerce data. Notably, during the 10 to 11 p.m. Eastern window, a staggering $15.7 million was spent every minute as individuals sought last-minute deals.
In the commodities sector, oil prices advanced amid a weakening dollar, which lowered prices for holders of alternative currencies. Anticipation of additional output cuts at the delayed OPEC+ meeting this week further contributed to the upward trajectory. Brent crude futures (BZ=F) settled just below $82 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose over 2% to settle above $76.
