On Friday there was a robust, broad-based rally across Wall Street as markets looked over more encouraging economic data and a sunnier earnings outlook. This despite the upcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting next week. The FOMC decision is widely expecting a unanimous vote for at least one last major rate increase, though with the Fed’s preferred price measure still showing inflation is running hot, that might make it harder for them to set up a possible downshift in its rate-hike pace for the December meeting.
That said, despite data on Thursday showed a strong rebound in U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in the third quarter, demonstrating resilience in the world’s largest economy and oil consumer and an acceleration with inflation, strong consumer spending data, and a robust labor market, much of Wall Street is growing confident that the Fed will pause tightening once they take the funds rate to 4.50-4.75% next quarter to the point where Financial markets have now priced in an 84.5% likelihood of a fifth consecutive 75 basis point interest rate hike at the conclusion of the Fed’s Nov. 1-2 policy meeting, and a 51.4% chance the central bank will decelerate to 50 basis points in December.
In addition to the FOMC decision, traders will also closely monitor the nonfarm payroll report. The strong labor market is still expected to show job growth with 200,000 jobs created in October, down from the 263,000 created in the prior month. The unemployment rate is expected to tick higher and wage gains are expected to slow.
So all major U.S. indexes ended the session up about 2.5% or more, with the S&P and the NASDAQ notching their second straight weekly gains. The blue-chip Dow posted its fourth consecutive Friday-to-Friday advance and its biggest weekly percentage gain since May. As a result, the bulls were back, even if largely driven by hopium (remembering the bulk of economists are still seeing a US recession likely next year!)
“This has been one of the best months (so far) in the history of the Dow, suggesting the bear market likely ended,” said Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group. “Big monthly moves historically happen at the end of bear markets.” “This is the second Friday in a row we’ve seen aggressive buying suggesting investors are growing more comfortable holding over the weekend,” Detrick added.
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