Stock Market Update

The S&P 500 futures are down 37 points and are trading 0.7% below fair value, the Nasdaq 100 futures are down 148 points and are trading 0.6% below fair value, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are down 236 points and are trading 0.6% below fair value.

Initial jobless claims for the week ending October 26 decreased by 12,000 to 216,000 (Briefing.com consensus 229,000). On an unadjusted basis, they totaled 200,132, a decrease of 3,349 from the prior week when seasonal factors expected an increase of 7,292. Continuing jobless claims for the week ending October 19 decreased by 26,000 to 1.862 million; however, the four-week moving average of 1,869,250 is the highest since November 27, 2021.

The key takeaway from the report is that layoff activity remains fairly subdued, yet it has been more challenging for laid-off workers to find new employment.

The Q3 Employment Cost Index increased 0.8% (Briefing.com consensus 1.0%), seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending in September 2024. Wages and salaries increased 0.8% and benefit costs increased 0.8% from June 2024.

The key takeaway from the report is that compensation costs for civilian, private, and state and local government workers decelerated versus the 12-month period ending in September 2023, reflecting a moderation in wage inflation.

Personal income increased 0.3% month-over-month in September (Briefing.com consensus 0.4%) following a 0.2% increase in August. Personal spending increased 0.5% (Briefing.com consensus 0.4%) following an upwardly revised 0.4% increase (from 0.3%) in August. The PCE Price Index was up 0.2%, as expected, and up 2.1% year-over-year versus 2.3% in August. The core PCE Price Index, which excludes food and energy, was up 0.3% (Briefing.com consensus 0.2%) and up 2.7% year-over-year for the third straight month.

The key takeaway from the report is the stickiness in core PCE inflation, which is running comfortably above the Fed's 2% target. That will wash out any expectation for another aggressive rate cut by the Fed anytime soon and it will keep the debate alive as to whether the Fed should keep cutting rates.

Treasury yields moved higher in response. The 10-yr yield was at 4.28% before the data and sits at 4.30% now.