Good morning, its Friday April 1st, the 91st day of 2005.
Today traders are wondering what April Fools jokes the market may have for them – following the rather impressive reversal this week, yesterday’s inside bars or trade largely in the upper end of Wednesday’s range can be seen as a pause or indecision, while traders square off taking short term profits and size up the risk of getting long or remaining short. Such pauses are common following a big range day, what’s more important is what happens today. Consequently the high and low of yesterday will be closely watched.
We have two market moving economic reports today – Employment at 8:30 am ET and the ISM Manufacturing index at 10:00 em ET, along with the usual concern over the price of oil, to move markets today.
Prior to the open crude is trading up more than three quarters of a percent over yesterday’s close, although at 55.82 remains below yesterday’s $56+ high. Stock index futures are up over yesterday’s close but we can expect this to move strongly one way or the other in 20 minutes when the employment numbers come out, as this market is in search of a reason to do something. Too strong growth? Fears of inflation. Too weak growth in jobs? Fears of stalling economy. A middling report? Perhaps that might be the best, as traders will look to oil and ISM report later in the morning for direction and give us enough time to have our first coffee!
US Market Calendar
- 8:30 am: Employment Report – March
- 9:45 am: University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index – March
- 10:00 am: ISM Index – March
- 10:00 am: Construction Spending – February
- 4:00 pm: Auto Sales – March
Canadian Market Calendar
- No releases scheduled
Earnings and the Federal Reserve
For earnings highlights, please see today's WSJ Earnings Calendar.
For a list of upcoming speeches, congressional testimony, Federal Open Market Committee material, and statistical releases, please visit the What's Next page of The Federal Reserve Board website. Recently released Federal Reserve Board material, including market moving FOMC decisions and speeches by members, will be found on their What's New page.
05.04.01 08:09 #