U.S. Stock Futures Waver as Retail Sales Growth Slows
14 August 2020 - 11:15PM
Dow Jones News
By Joe Wallace
U.S. stock futures wobbled Friday after data showed a slowdown
in U.S. retail sales growth, and as investors awaited high-level
trade talks between U.S. and Chinese officials over the
weekend.
Futures tied to the S&P 500 were nearly flat. The broad
index is on track for a muted weekly gain, placing it just below
its record closing high from February.
"The market has been quite stoical this week," said Jane Foley,
head of foreign-exchange strategy at Rabobank. "It's August, so we
may have to wait until September to find any strong direction."
U.S. retail sales rose 1.2% in July, according to Commerce
Department data, down from an 8.4% rise in June. Expectations of a
third-quarter rebound in U.S. gross domestic product hinge largely
on Americans' willingness and ability to shop.
Money managers are also awaiting trade talks between senior U.S.
and Chinese officials, scheduled for Saturday. Relations have
deteriorated in recent months, concerning investors who think fresh
barriers to trade would further hurt the global economy.
The main thrust of the discussion is aimed at evaluating China's
compliance with a bilateral trade agreement signed in January.
Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, President Xi Jinping's chief trade
negotiator with Washington, is expected to bring up concerns over
the executive orders against the WeChat and TikTok apps.
"The tone of these talks will be crucial," Ms. Foley said.
"There is a concern that China has perhaps not fulfilled its
promises in, for example, importing agricultural or energy goods
from the U.S."
In overseas markets, travel-and-leisure companies led European
shares lower, pushing the Stoxx Europe 600 down 1.1%. The U.K.
government late Thursday imposed a quarantine on people traveling
from France, the latest in a series of restrictions designed to
stem rising coronavirus cases in the region. on the continent.
New coronavirus cases in the U.S. climbed above 50,000 for the
second day in a row Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins
University. The seven-day average of new infections topped the
14-day average in 13 states and Washington, D.C., according to a
Wall Street Journal analysis, suggesting cases were rising in those
areas.
Shares in sectors that are sensitive to economic growth, such as
industrials and energy companies, have advanced this week while
highflying technology stocks have cooled.
"The underlying tone of the market has improved markedly over
the past few weeks," said Candice Bangsund, a portfolio manager at
Fiera Capital. "There are some encouraging signs of a global
economic recovery."
Still, the lack of a breakthrough in talks over a new round of
economic relief in Washington was keeping some investors on
edge.
"There's a slightly nagging feeling that there should be a deal
by now, or there should be more positive noises," said Emiel van
den Heiligenberg, head of allocation for multiasset funds at Legal
& General Investment Management. "If they walk away from the
talks, then you get a fiscal cliff in the U.S., which equity
investors won't take very lightly." Stocks could drop 10% in that
scenario, according to Mr. van den Heiligenberg, who thinks a deal
will be reached.
The Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.2% by the close of trading
after data showing China's recovery continued in July, though the
economy shed some momentum as Beijing eased off stimulus measures.
Industrial production rose 4.8% from a year before but retail
sales, a closely watched gauge of consumption, fell 1.1%.
The yield on 10-year Treasury notes edged down to 0.710%, from
0.714% Thursday. Yields had risen for five straight trading days,
boosted by hefty government debt auctions including a $26
billion-sale of 30-year bonds that met weak demand.
Gold futures fell 0.8% to $1,955.20 a troy ounce, putting prices
on course to decline 3.6% for the week. The precious metal, whose
price hit a record high earlier this month, has come under pressure
from rising bond yields.
Write to Joe Wallace at Joe.Wallace@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 14, 2020 09:00 ET (13:00 GMT)
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