Economic Events and Their Potential Impact on the NASDAQ
Core Inflation Rate MoM (September)
Actual: 0.3% (Forecast: 0.2%, Previous: 0.2%)
Impact: Bearish
Reason: A higher-than-expected core inflation rate indicates rising inflationary pressures, which may lead the Federal Reserve to consider tightening monetary policy (e.g., raising interest rates). Higher interest rates can negatively impact growth stocks, particularly in tech sectors represented in the NASDAQ.
Core Inflation Rate YoY (September)
Actual: 3.2% (Forecast: 3.2%, Previous: 3.1%)
Impact: Bearish
Reason: While it met expectations, the fact that it remains elevated could signal persistent inflation concerns, potentially leading to further rate hikes by the Fed, impacting equity valuations negatively.
Inflation Rate MoM (September)
Actual: 0.2% (Forecast: 0.1%, Previous: 0.1%)
Impact: Bearish
Reason: The higher-than-expected MoM inflation rate could signal increasing price pressures, reinforcing concerns about the Fed’s monetary policy stance, which may lead to higher borrowing costs for companies in the NASDAQ.
Inflation Rate YoY (September)
Actual: 2.5% (Forecast: 2.3%, Previous: 2.3%)
Impact: Bearish
Reason: This slight increase above expectations can be interpreted as a sign of persistent inflation, likely prompting the Fed to maintain or increase interest rates, negatively affecting tech stocks.
CPI (Consumer Price Index) (September)
Actual: 314.80 (Forecast: 314.86, Previous: 314.90)
Impact: Neutral
Reason: The CPI figure was slightly below the forecast but generally stable. Since this data can be seen as not dramatically changing the inflation landscape, it may not cause significant volatility in the NASDAQ.
CPI s.a. (Seasonally Adjusted) (September)
Actual: 314.121 (Previous: 314.4)
Impact: Neutral
Reason: Similar to the CPI, this indicates stability, which may not provoke strong market reactions but keeps the focus on inflation trends.
Initial Jobless Claims (October 5)
Actual: 225K (Forecast: 230K, Previous: 227K)
Impact: Bullish
Reason: A lower-than-expected jobless claims figure suggests a strong labor market, which can bolster consumer spending and confidence. Strong employment data is generally positive for equity markets, including the NASDAQ, as it can lead to increased spending and economic growth.
Summary of Overall Impact
Bearish Indicators: Core Inflation Rate MoM, Core Inflation Rate YoY, Inflation Rate MoM, and Inflation Rate YoY are likely to have a bearish effect on the NASDAQ due to concerns about rising inflation and potential Fed rate hikes.
Neutral Indicators: The CPI and CPI s.a. data are expected to have a neutral impact as they do not deviate significantly from expectations.
Bullish Indicator: Initial Jobless Claims could provide a slight bullish sentiment, reflecting a strong labor market and supporting consumer spending.
Overall Outlook
Given the predominant bearish signals from inflation-related data, the NASDAQ may experience downward pressure. However, the bullish sentiment from jobless claims could provide some support, leading to a mixed or cautious trading day. Traders should be aware of the potential for volatility as markets react to these economic indicators.