12 Apr 2023 Market Close & Major Financial Headlines: The Markets Gapped Sharply Down At The Opening Bell, Continued To Trend Lower, Finally Closing Near Session Lows
Summary Of the Markets Today:
- The Dow closed down 476 points or 1.24%,
- Nasdaq closed down 1.62%,
- S&P 500 closed down 1.46%,
- Gold $2,361 down $11.90,
- WTI crude oil settled at $86 up $0.48,
- 10-year U.S. Treasury 4.520% down 0.056 points,
- USD index $106.03 up $0.750,
- Bitcoin $66,994 down $3,333 (4.84%), – Historic high 73,798.25
- Baker Hughes Rig Count: U.S. -3 to 617 Canada +5 to 141
*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.
Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – April 2024 Economic Forecast: Economy Marginally Improving But Growth Will Be Weak
Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:
I continue to suggest that inflationary pressures are not abating despite the spin from pundits who want the Fed to cut the federal funds rate. I study forces which cause inflation, and part of my reasoning in contained in my economic forecasts. Today, export and import price indices were released – and the disinflation in import prices has disappeared with growth now 0.4% year-over-year. The disinflation in import prices began over one year ago. 15% GDP in the US are imported goods and services – and 49% of all goods sold in the US are imported. One can now expect not only downward pressure on GDP (as imports are subtracted from GDP), but upward pressure from imports on inflation
University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment moved sideways for the fourth straight month, as consumers perceived few meaningful developments in the economy. Since January, sentiment has remained remarkably steady within a very narrow 2.5 index point range, well under the 5 points necessary for a statistically significant difference in readings. Consumers perceived little change in the state of the economy since the start of the new year. Expectations over personal finances, business conditions, and labor markets have all been stable over the last four months. However, a slight uptick in inflation expectations in April reflects some frustration that the inflation slowdown may have stalled. Overall, consumers are reserving judgment about the economy in light of the upcoming election, which, in the view of many consumers, could have a substantial impact on the trajectory of the economy.
Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:
- High Interest Rates Are Crushing Renewable Energy Projects
- U.S. Senator Pushes for Ban on Chinese Electric Vehicles
- Russia Intensifies Strikes on Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure
- U.S. Drilling Activity Continues to Drop Off
- Rivian, Lucid, Tesla Stocks Tumble As Price War Escalates
- Oil Prices Surge on Fears of an Imminent Iranian Attack
- The Oil Price Rally Has Stalled… For Now.
- Dow tumbles 475 points, S&P 500 suffers worst day since January as inflation woes erupt: Live updates
- BlackRock’s Larry Fink sees Fed cutting rates twice this year but missing 2% inflation goal
- AMD and Intel dip on report China told telecoms to remove foreign chips
- Trump Media shares drop below $30, company sheds more than half of market cap since trading debut
- Jamie Dimon warns that inflation, wars and Fed policy pose major threats ahead
- Boeing Doom-Loop Of Endless Crises Sends Shares Tumbling To Longest Losing-Streak In Five Years
- 10- and 30-year Treasury yields end with biggest two-week advance since October
Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.