The major U.S. index futures are currently pointing to a roughly flat open on Tuesday, with stocks likely to show a lack of direction after ending Monday’s choppy trading session mostly higher.
Uncertainty about the near-term outlook for the markets may keep some traders on the sidelines following a strong September, which is historically a weak month for stocks.
Traders may also be reluctant to make significant moves in early trading ahead of the release of the Institute for Supply Management’s report on manufacturing activity in the month of September.
The report, which is due to be released shortly after the start of trading, is expected to show the ISM’s manufacturing PMI inched up to 47.5 in September from 47.2 in August. A reading below 50 would still indicate contraction.
The Labor Department is also due to release its report on job openings in the month of August. Job openings in August are expected to come in unchanged from July at 7.67 million.
Later in the week, the Labor Department’s closely watched monthly jobs report is likely to be in the spotlight, as traders look for additional clues about the outlook for the economy and interest rates.
Economists currently expect the report to show employment rose by 140,000 jobs in September after climbing by 142,000 jobs in August, while the unemployment rate is expected to hold at 4.2 percent.
Stocks showed a lack of direction over the course of the trading session on Monday before eventually ending the day mostly higher. The major averages all finished the day in positive territory following the mixed performance seen last Friday.
The Dow inched up 17.15 points or less than a tenth of a percent to a new record closing high of 42,330.15, while the Nasdaq climbed 69.58 points or 0.4 percent to 18,189.17. The S&P 500 also rose 24.31 points or 0.4 percent to a new record closing high of 5,762.48.
Stocks initially came under pressure in reaction to remarks by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell before rebounding going into the close.
The Fed chief suggested the central bank will continue to lower interest rates but stressed the downward path for rates is not on a preset course.
Powell said the decision to slash rates by half a percentage point earlier this month reflects the Fed’s growing confidence that an appropriate recalibration of monetary policy will maintain strength in the labor market and keep inflation moving sustainably down to the 2 percent target.
“Looking forward, if the economy evolves broadly as expected, policy will move over time toward a more neutral stance,” Powell said.
“But we are not on any preset course,” he continued. “The risks are two-sided, and we will continue to make our decisions meeting by meeting.”
Powell’s remarks partly offset optimism the Fed will continue to lower interest rates aggressively in the coming months.
The Fed’s next monetary policy meeting is scheduled for November 6-7, with CME Group’s FedWatch Tool currently indicating a 65.3 percent chance the central bank will lower rates by 25 basis points and a 34.7 percent chance of another 50 basis point rate cut.
Despite the advance by the broader markets, most of the major sectors ended the day showing only modest moves.
Gold stocks saw considerable weakness, however, with the NYSE Arca Gold Bugs Index tumbling by 2.1 percent. The weakness among gold stocks came amid a decrease by the price of the precious metal.
Telecom and semiconductor stocks also saw some weakness on the day, while airline and biotechnology stocks moved to the upside.