US Stocks Slightly Up Ahead of Holiday Weekend

U.S. stock index futures pointed to modest gains at the open on Friday, indicating the market’s recent upswing was intact with major indexes on track for their fourth straight week of gains.

Stocks have been strong of late, with investors taking any opportunity to buy on dips. However, this week’s trading volume has been among the lightest of the year, and that is likely to be more pronounced on Friday, ahead of the Labor Day holiday in the United States for which markets will be closed on Monday.

In the latest economic data, consumer spending unexpectedly fell in July as savings rose to their highest level in more than 1-1/2 years, a sign that households remain cautious despite an acceleration in economic and jobs growth.

 
After the market opens, the MNI Chicago Purchasing Manager’s Index and the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers will be released. Both are seen rising modestly.

S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 rose 2.5 points and were above fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average e-mini futures 1YMc1 rose 15 points and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 rose 7.25 points.

via Reuters

Content is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please access the RSS feed or contact us at info@marketpulse.com. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2023 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.