U.S. jobs report ahead, Caixin survey surprise - what's moving markets
Investing.com -- The Labor Department's closely-watched monthly jobs report is set to headline the economic calendar on Friday, with the data likely to factor into the Federal Reserve's future interest rate decisions. Meanwhile, a private survey shows that China's factory activity surprisingly expanded in August, as Beijing rolls out fresh measures to help reinvigorate the country's stuttering economy.
1. Futures inch up ahead of key jobs report
U.S. stock futures rose on Friday as investors digested a losing August on Wall Street and awaited the release of crucial nonfarm payrolls.
By 05:30 ET (09:30 GMT), the Dow futures contract was up by 115 points or 0.3%, S&P 500 futures added 13 points or 0.3%, and Nasdaq 100 futures inched up by 25 points 0.2%.
All of the main indices on Wall Street posted losses in August, with the broad-based S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slumping in particular to their first monthly decrease since February. On Thursday, the 30-stock Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped by 0.5% and the S&P 500 lost 0.2%, while the Nasdaq added 0.1%.
The moves came after economic data showed that the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure, edged up as anticipated on an annual basis in July. Month-on-month, the PCE number held steady, pointing to a potential easing in price pressures. Meanwhile, the rate of household spending ticked higher, suggesting continued resilience in the wider economy despite a recent surge in interest rates.
Following the numbers, traders mostly stuck to their bets that the Fed will likely keep borrowing costs unchanged at its upcoming policy meeting later this month. According to Investing.com's Fed Rate Monitor
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