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Stock-index futures pointed to a modestly higher start Monday, putting the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 on track to build on last week’s record finish.
What are major indexes doing?
- Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average YM00, +0.30% rose 117 points, or 0.4%, to 32,782.
- S&P 500 futures ES00, +0.10% were up 8.70 points, or 0.2%< at 3,941.50.
- Nasdaq-100 futures NQ00, +0.06% gained 42.75 points, or 0.3%, to trade at12,967.
On Friday, stocks ended a volatile week on a positive note, with the Dow DJIA, +0.90% and S&P 500 SPX, +0.10% closing at records, while the Nasdaq Composite COMP, -0.59% logged a weekly gain of 3.1% after slipping into correction territory, a fall of 10% from a recent peak, earlier in the week.
The small-cap Russell 2000 RUT, +0.61% also scored a record close on Friday.
What’s driving the market?
Stocks were lifted last week as President Joe Biden signed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package into law and investors shook off a sixth straight week of rising Treasury yields.
Those rising yields are seen as the main fuel behind a rotation away from previously highflying, large-cap growth stocks toward more cyclically sensitive, value-oriented stocks. Higher bond yields make it tougher to justify stretched valuations for the most expensive stocks, while expectations for a broader economic reopening make cyclical stocks more attractive.
The Nasdaq early last week slipped into correction territory, defined as a pullback of 10% from a recent peak, but subsequently bounced back even as yields continued to rise.
“The rotation out of technology caused the Nasdaq to shed 10% from its highs; we think for now this trend has run its course,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities, in a note.
“On the other hand, while the market may still need to adjust to higher yields, the discounting of a solid expansion will likely keep the indices within a rangebound trading pattern, with a tilt toward the upside,” he wrote.
Yields were lower Monday, with the rate on the 10-year Treasury note TMUBMUSD10Y, 1.633% down 1.9 basis points at 1.608%. Yields and bond prices move in opposite directions.
A Federal Reserve policy meeting will grab investor attention this week, with policy makers set to conclude a two-day gathering on Wednesday. No monetary-policy changes are expected, but Chairman Jerome Powell is likely to once again face questions about rising bond yields, boosted by expectations for a pickup in inflation.
Read: Fed to stay dovish next week as Powell channels his inner Gary Cooper calm
Powell “is likely to emphasize that significant uncertainties remain and that large gaps persist between the current and pre-COVID economies, particularly with respect to the labor market,” said Brett Ryan, senior U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank, in a note.
“As such, Powell is likely to reiterate that any discussion of tapering is ‘premature’ and that it will likely be ‘some time’ before the committee can assess when ‘substantial further progress’ will be achieved, he wrote.
Also see: Markets set up for disappointment from Fed meeting as bond yields renew rise
The New York Fed’s March Empire State Index, a gauge of manufacturing activity in New York state, is due at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.
Which companies are in focus?
- Shares of Lordstown Motors Corp. RIDE, -16.54% rose more than 5% in premarket trade after the electric truck maker responded to a bearish short-seller report by saying it remains on track to start production of its Endurance electric pickup truck in September 2021.
- Shares of electric-vehicle maker Tesla Inc. TSLA, -0.84% were in focus after the Washington Post reported that there were around 450 coronavirus cases at the company’s Fremont, Calif., production plant after it reopened in defiance of local health regulations last May. Separately, in an SEC filing, Tesla said that Elon Musk’s title had changed from chief executive to Technoking of Tesla, while Zach Kirkhorn’s had changed from chief financial officer to Master of Coin. Tesla said Musk would retain his position as CEO and Kirkhorn would retain his position as CFO.
