U.S. futures rose Wednesday ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates with high expectations that they will move higher in what would be the central bank’s first hike in more than three years.
Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh, economists say, has largely boxed himself into a rate hike after delivering a high-profile speech last month warning that inflation remains well above the Fed’s two per cent target. U.S. data released last week showing that inflation remains stubbornly high bolstered expectations for higher rates, which can slow borrowing and cool costs.
That puts Warsh on a collision course with U.S. President Donald Trump, who wants the Fed to cut interest rates. Trump lambasted former Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the issue before he nominated Warsh for the job this year.
Futures for the S&P 500 gained 0.2 per cent on Wednesday. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.1 per cent and the Nasdaq rose 0.4 per cent.
Oil prices declined for the first time this week with Saudi Arabia’s crucial oil pipeline closure adding to pressure on global oil supply. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been targeting infrastructure in the kingdom as well as its shipping on the Red Sea, where they have seized several islands on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. And Iran is still targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude, the international standard, fell 1.1 per cent lower to US$107.61 a barrel, but is still far above the $70 per barrel before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February.
Benchmark U.S. crude dropped two per cent to $103.70 a barrel.
A gallon of gasoline in the U.S. rose again overnight, hitting $4.37 on average, according to motor club AAA. A week ago, gasoline averaged $4.22 a gallon. Diesel, which topped $6 a gallon on Friday, is now $6.31 a gallon on average, up from $5.94 a week earlier.
Higher U.S. Treasury yields have pressured on the stock market. Government bond yields have risen as the Iran war-driven energy crisis added to inflationary pressure while the U.S. national debt grew.
The 10-year Treasury was at five per cent on Wednesday, after it briefly touched 5.04 per cent this week, its highest level in years.
The U.S. Commerce Department releases retail sales data for August. In July, Americans unexpectedly cut their spending by the biggest amount in more than a year with retail sales falling 0.6 per cent. Economists are expecting a rebound in August, with analysts surveyed by FactSet projecting a 0.9 per cent increase
In Europe, Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.6 per cent to 10,723.77. France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.4 per cent to 8,123.78, while Germany’s DAX gained 0.3 per cent to 25,466.60. Asian markets were higher.
The U.S. dollar rose to 155.19 Japanese yen from 155.10 yen. The euro was trading at $1.1535, down from $1.1544.
By Chan Ho-him and Michelle Chapman
