Stocks fall as job data outweigh Biden tax pitch
U.S. equities fell Thursday as investors digested a raft of economic data and a report President Joe Biden may be open to a lower corporate tax rate than 28%.
The S&P 500 rose from session lows after Biden was said to have pitched a 15% minimum tax on U.S. corporations as a way to fund a bipartisan infrastructure package. However, the bounce wasn't enough to erase earlier declines on concerns the Federal Reserve may withdraw its support sooner than expected. An ADP report showed payrolls at U.S. firms gained by the most in nearly a year, while additional figures on the economic health of the services sector rose to the highest on record.
The dollar was stronger. Commodities, including gold and copper, were lower. And Treasuries fell. Meanwhile, the rally in so-called meme stocks including AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. began to fade.
With U.S. equities locked in a tight range for the past month, investors are on the lookout for any signs that the Fed might start to taper its asset purchases. St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said Thursday the U.S. labor market might be tighter than suggested by the current unemployment rate. Up next, all eyes will be on Friday's jobs report after separate data Thursday indicated strength was afoot. U.S. jobless claims dipped below 400,000 for the first time during the pandemic last week.
"With seemingly all systems go on the jobs front, the economy is flashing some very real signs that this isn't just a comeback -- expansion mode could be on the horizon," said Mike Loewengart, managing director of investment strategy at E*Trade Financial. "So what does that translate to? Likely more pressure on the Fed to make a move -- perhaps sooner than many thought from the outset."
The weakness in U.S. trading followed declines in Europe and Asia on the back of mounting geopolitical tensions. Russia said it would eliminate the dollar from its National Wellbeing Fund to reduce exposure to U.S. assets. Meanwhile, the U.S. is set to amend an investment ban on companies linked to the Chinese military.
"The summer of uncertainty is on full display," Dennis DeBusschere, head of portfolio strategy at Evercore ISI, wrote in a note. "10-year yields remain anchored and there is pressure on the USD, but leading indicators are strong, credit conditions are easy and market volatility remains low. That backdrop favors risk assets."
These are some of the main moves in markets:
Stocks
- The S&P 500 fell 0.4% at 4 p.m. New York time, the most since May 19 as of 4 p.m. EDT
- The Nasdaq 100 fell 1.1%, more than any closing loss since May 12
- The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.1%, more than any closing loss since May 25
- The MSCI World index fell 0.5%, more than any closing loss since May 19
Currencies
- The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 0.7%, more than any closing gain since May 12
- The euro slipped 0.7%, more than any closing loss since April 30
- The British pound slipped 0.5%, more than any closing loss since May 19
- The Japanese yen slipped 0.7%, more than any closing loss since May 12
Bonds
- The yield on 10-year Treasurys advanced four basis points, more than any closing gain since May 12
- Germany's 10-year yield advanced two basis points to -0.18%
- Britain's 10-year yield advanced four basis points to 0.84%
Commodities
- West Texas Intermediate crude was little changed
- Gold futures fell 1.9%, the most since March 31
