Last Updated: 4:06PM EST
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Stock indices finished mixed in today’s trading session amid new economic data. The Nasdaq 100 (NDX) and the S&P 500 (SPX) fell 0.68% and 0.06%, respectively. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) gained 0.35%.
Earlier today, the Conference Board released its Consumer Confidence report, which, as the name suggests, measures the consumers’ confidence in the economy. This report is believed to be a leading indicator for spending patterns, as optimistic consumers are more likely to spend as opposed to pessimistic ones.
For January, consumer confidence came in at 114.8, which was lower than expectations of 115. However, this was higher than last month’s reading of 108.
Last Updated: 11:30AM EST
Stock indices are little changed so far in today’s trading session. On Tuesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its JOLTs Job Openings report, which helps measure job vacancies in the U.S. The number came in at 9.026 million job openings for December, above the expected 8.75 million. This is higher than the previous report, which saw 8.925 million job openings. However, job openings have been in an overall decline since peaking at 11.855 million back in May 2022’s report.
It’s important to remember that this data is for December, thus making it a lagging indicator. Since then, many companies have announced that they will reduce their workforce in order to cut costs, which provides evidence that this downward trend is likely to continue.
First Published: 3:49AM EST
U.S. futures edged lower early Tuesday as investors awaited the release of results from two of the magnificent seven stocks. Futures on the Nasdaq 100 (NDX), S&P 500 (SPX), and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) were down about 0.11%, 0.1%, and 0.15%, respectively, at 3:10 a.m. EST, January 30.
In after-hours trading, F5 (NASDAQ:FFIV), a company specializing in multi-cloud application services and security, saw its shares rise by over 9% following a Q1 earnings beat and upbeat outlook. On the other hand, shares of the home appliance manufacturer Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) came under pressure due to the lower-than-expected full-year guidance.
Turning attention to significant earnings announcements, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) will release their quarterly financial numbers today after the market closes. Analysts expect these tech giants to benefit from Artificial Intelligence (AI) tailwinds and lower costs.
Meanwhile, oil prices were trending higher at the time of writing due to the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The WTI crude oil futures were up, hovering near $76.83 per barrel as of the last check.
Elsewhere, European indices are likely to start on a positive trajectory as investors prepare for the release of the euro zone’s preliminary fourth-quarter GDP numbers.
Asia-Pacific Markets Remained Mixed Today
The Asia-Pacific indices were mainly in red on Tuesday as the Evergrande liquidation order dragged Hong Kong and China markets down.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed 2.41% lower. However, China’s Shenzhen Component Index and Shanghai Composite ended down by 2.4% and 1.83%, respectively.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei finished higher by 0.11%, while Topix ended lower by 0.10%.
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