US ECONOMY

Consumer prices were unchanged in October from September.

In a more hawkish speech, the Fed chair warned against "head fakes" from inflation.

Tom Barkin said the economy is still to show impacts of higher rates, while Michelle Bowman said the current rate appears to be "restrictive."

The four-week average rose to the highest level since mid-September.

The Federal Reserve chair didn't discuss the economy or interest rates in his speech.

Applications for mortgages rose as lenders tried to take advantage of lower rates.

September is usually a dismal time for investors. It's the month after the end of the summer when money managers make portfolio adjustments and trade volume picks up.

The gains in gasoline prices place the nation's central bank on alert for a resumption of inflation, making the September interest rate hike a hawkish rather than a dovish pause.

Equities came under pressure from a sell-off in big tech companies like Apple, Qualcomm and Nvidia, which weigh heavily on major equity indexes.

The S&P 500 ended the week at 4,515, up 1.9% for the week, the Dow Jones at 34,837, up 0.70%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq at 14,031, up 2.4%.

Positive earnings surprises usually drive equity prices higher. But not this time around.

Aiding the down pressure on stocks was the anticipation of a hawkish message by the Fed chair in the annual economic conference at Jackson Hole.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said inflation remains too high in the U.S. and the central bank is prepared to raise rates further if appropriate.

Continuing measures to wrangle inflation and avert a U.S. recession are likely to be discussed at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's annual Economic Policy Symposium in Wyoming.

This year, traders and investors on Wall Street will pay close attention to figure out whether rising bond yields and China's woes will give the Fed a good reason for a dovish message — a pause in interest rate hikes in fighting inflation.

The S&P 500 ended last week with 90 points or a 2% loss, the Dow Jones with 1200 or a 3.4% loss, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq with 337 points or a 2.5% loss.

When bond yields rise, the opportunity cost of capital committed to equities rises, and therefore, the expected return on equities decreases. As a result, equities command lower valuations.

Twelve months ago, Wall Street was trading on the narrative that the U.S. economy will slide into a full-blown recession for the rest of the year.

The latest U.S. jobs report is a mix of positive and negative news as the national economy tries to achieve a so-called soft landing.

Fitch Ratings is sending a warning to the United States federal government that its current spending and borrowing habits cannot continue without serious consequences for the national and international economy.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will release the July nonfarm payrolls report on Friday morning. It's a survey of private business establishments in the country measuring the net number of jobs generated monthly.

Americans are feeling better about their economic situation, according to two key metrics of consumer confidence.

A stronger-than-expected U.S. GDP report and robust durable goods sales shook off fears of an impending recession, aiding the positive sentiment about corporate earnings.

The U.S. housing market is stabilizing in 2023 after rapid price increases in the post-pandemic years, but the demand for homes still significantly exceeds the supply.

The chances for another hike have been rising thanks to a robust labor market, something the Fed monitors closely in determining the direction of the nation's monetary policy.

The labor market's resilience supports expectations for a hawkish Fed, meaning Wall Street is in for higher interest rates for extended periods.

In its regular June meeting last week, the Fed sent a clear and loud message to markets: Fighting inflation isn't done. Interest rate hikes will continue for the rest of the year until inflation reaches the official goal of 2%.

In its regular June policy meeting on Wednesday, the FOMC left interest rates unchanged. Nonetheless, it reaffirmed that price stability remained its top priority goal and that it would do whatever it takes to reach it.

That's a new dilemma the nation's bank is facing as the U.S. economy has moved closer to its dual pursuit of maximum employment and steady prices.