FOMC

Pre-open movers US stock futures gained in early pre-market trade, ahead of the ADP jobs report. The ADP national employment report for October will be released at 8:15 a.m. ET, while the consumer price index for September will be released at 8:30 a.m. ET. The FOMC is scheduled to announce its...

Markets are in chop mode as traders drift and hold the 175 line on S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY). FOMC this week is probably going to turn trading to a sludge. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) earnings results were almost a non-event. Many volatility traders are slinging this back and forth. Careful of LinkedIn (...

In the coming week, the FOMC minutes will take center stage as investors look for cues as to whether the Fed will taper asset purchases in September. Also, key housing indicators and housing-related stocks will be in focus. Key Earnings In the coming week, the key earnings are from Hewlett-...

The U.S. stock market closed mixed on Wednesday despite upbeat economic data and a dovish FOMC statement. The advanced GDP estimate for the second-quarter came in much better than expected and the central bank showed no signs that a pullback in its quantitative easing program is imminent....

In its latest interest rate statement, the Federal Reserve kept rates on hold as expected and kept its bond-buying program at $85 billion per month. The Fed made no indication of tapering at all in its statement. Modest Recovery The Fed noted that the economy expanded at a modest pace in the first...

Futures Higher Heading Into FOMC Decision, Second Quarter GDP U.S. equity futures rose slightly in early pre-market trade ahead of some key economic data from around the world. Also, the FOMC rate decision is due out today after the first look at second quarter GDP but there will be no press...

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech to the House Financial Services Committee was published an hour and a half before the speech. In the text of the upcoming speech, Bernanke once again reiterated that tapering would likely start this year if the economy moves in line with the Fed's...

On Monday, the Census Bureau announced that retail sales in the U.S. rose at a slower pace than expected in June. The move has prompted some to revise down second quarter growth estimates and decreases the likelihood that the Fed will taper purchases in September. Weak Report For the month of June...

Futures Rise Despite Weak China GDP U.S. equity futures gained in early pre-market trade despite weak GDP data from China. China reported second quarter GDP grew 1.7 percent in the quarter, worse than the expected 1.8 percent growth rate. However, the annualized figure posted at 7.5 percent growth...

Rising bond yields? Two-year highs in mortgage rates? Stocks seemingly schizophrenic to any and all Fed speak? Forget it all, as Ben Bernanke said Wednesday that "the overall message is accommodation." What Was So Different? Honestly, nothing. The only real difference was that this time, it was...

Futures Lower On Weak China Trade Data, Eyeing FOMC Minutes U.S. equity futures dropped slightly in early pre-market trade following some weak trade data from China for June. The world's second largest economy reported slower than expected growth in both exports and imports but a wider than...

In the upcoming week, second quarter earnings season formally kicks off with the much-anticipated earnings report from Alcoa (NYSE: AA). Also, JP Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) kicks off financials earnings while Yum! Brands' (NYSE: YUM) earnings report will be closely watched for comments on its...

Futures Gain Into Fed Speak U.S. equity futures rose in early pre-market trade ahead of key speeches from FOMC voting members. New York Fed President William Dudley, who is a permanent voting member and is in charge of the open market operations for the Fed, is set to speak this morning followed...

Minneapolis Fed President Naryana Kocherlakota issued a statement unexpectedly Monday, announcing his views that recent Fed communications have not been clear enough. He fully supports continued easing and argued that the FOMC has not done enough to quell rate hike fears. Asset Purchases...

Last week, fears began to rise over the impending exit of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke from his current office. However, for those in the know, the move does not come as a shock as it was previously known that his term ends in January at that President Obama had not offered him the option to stay on...