Futures dip on higher Treasury yields, jobless claims data awaited

May 9, 2024
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Traders work on the floor of the NYSE in New York

Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., May 8, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

  • Weekly jobless claims rise more than expected
  • Airbnb falls on weak Q2 revenue forecast
  • Roblox slumps after cutting bookings forecast
  • Futures down: S&P 0.07%, Dow 0.19%, Nasdaq 0.02%

May 9 (Reuters) – U.S. stock indexes were set for a muted open on Thursday as a slate of downbeat earnings offset the impact of data that showed U.S. weekly jobless claims rose more than expected, indicating softening labor market conditions.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 231,000 for the week ended May 4, the Labor Department said. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 215,000 claims in the latest week.

The data followed last week’s softer-than-expected payrolls numbers that fueled bets that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates sometime this year.

“Whenever we have an employment number that is weaker and it doesn’t meet our expectations, ironically, that bolsters the markets because the data was in favor of a rate cut rather than a rate hike,” said Peter Andersen, founder of Andersen Capital Management.

Money market traders are pricing in U.S. rate cuts worth 47 basis points (bps) by the end of 2024, according to LSEG’s rate probabilities app, up from 44 bps before Thursday’s data.

The jobless claims data dragged down yields on 10-year Treasury notes , the benchmark for global borrowing costs, which had risen in the previous session and pressured equities.

But the optimism was countered by some disappointing earnings reports.

Chip designer Arm Holdings tumbled 6.7% in premarket trading as its full-year revenue forecast came in below expectations. Bigger rival Nvidia

(NVDA.O), opens new tab

slipped marginally.

Warner Bros Discovery

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slid almost 3% after it reported a larger-than-expected quarterly loss, as its cable TV unit reported a slump in ad sales and the studio segment struggled due to Hollywood strikes and poor sales of “Suicide Squad” videogame.

Roblox

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slumped 27% after the video-gaming platform cut its annual bookings forecast, in a sign that people were dialing back on spending amid an uncertain economic outlook and elevated levels of inflation.

By 8:48 a.m. ET, S&P 500 e-minis were down 3.5 points, or 0.07%. Nasdaq 100 e-minis fell 3.25 points, or 0.02%, while Dow e-minis dipped 74 points, or 0.19%.

Robinhood Markets

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gained 7% after the online brokerage beat estimates for first-quarter profit, thanks to robust crypto trading volumes and rate hikes that boosted its net interest revenue.

Airbnb

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slid 8.2% after the vacation rental company forecast second-quarter revenue below market expectations, stoking fears of slowing growth.

Investors will focus on San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly’s speech later in the day for clues on U.S. rate path.

Boston Fed President Susan Collins on Wednesday expressed confidence that the current setting of monetary policy will slow the economy in a way she believes will be necessary to get inflation back to the Fed’s 2% target.

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Reporting by Sruthi Shankar and Shristi Achar A in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath and Shinjini Ganguli

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Shristi is a correspondent, part of the markets team reporting on the stock markets across U.S., UK, Canada, Europe and Emerging markets.

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