Jobs Report Preview
What’s in Today’s Report:
- Jobs Report Preview
- Oil Market Update & EIA Analysis
Futures are little changed following a busy night of mixed economic data.
Positively, the August Chinese PMIs were better than feared, rising to 50.3 vs. (E) 50.1 and helping to slightly reduce China recession worries.
Negatively, the EU flash HICP (their version of CPI) was hot on the headline (5.3% vs. (E) 5.1%) but in-line on core (5.3% y/y), underscoring that inflation is sticky in the EU.
Focus today will be on economic data, specifically Jobless Claims (E: 238K) and the Core PCE Price Index (E: 0.2% m/m, 4.2% y/y). For stocks to extend the week’s gains (and continue to bounce back from the broader pullback) investors won’t want any surprises. In the case of jobless claims, that means no big jump in claims that hints at economic weakness, nor a further drop that might make the Fed more hawkish. On the core PCE Price Index, an in-line to slightly below reading would be positive as it’d further pressure Treasury yields and likely lift stocks.
Finally, there is one Fed speaker today, Collins at 9:00 a.m. ET, but she shouldn’t move markets.
