Futures mixed as payrolls data eyed for policy cues
By Amruta Khandekar and Shristi Achar A
(Reuters) — Futures tracking the Dow and the S&P 500 indexes were subdued on Thursday as caution prevailed ahead of the monthly payrolls data due later in the week, while Nasdaq futures were propped up by a rise in Google shares.
Reports showing weak private payrolls and job openings this week have reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve's furious pace of rate hikes is slowing the economy, potentially allowing the central bank to ease up on its monetary policy next year.
Traders have nearly fully priced in the likelihood of the Fed keeping interest rates unchanged at its meeting next week, with 61% betting on a rate cut as soon as March 2024, according to the CME Group's (NASDAQ:CME) FedWatch tool.
However, some analysts have warned that markets have been too optimistic about rate cuts and also said the upcoming jobs report will be crucial in determining the chances of a soft landing — where the Fed manages to avert a recession.
«U.S. jobs numbers tomorrow and central bank meetings next week could inform the market if it has got carried away with the level of rate cuts which are now being priced in for 2024,» Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, wrote in a note.
The Labor Department's report is expected to show non-farm payrolls increased by 180,000 jobs last month after rising by 150,000 in October.
Another report due at 8:30 a.m. ET is expected to show initial jobless claims ticked up to 222,000 for the week ended Dec. 2, compared with 218,000 in the prior week.
Meanwhile, comments from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda added to growing speculation that the central bank could soon shift away from its ultra-easy monetary policy.
At 7:02 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were down 75
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