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- 28 أبريل 2004
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NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks are poised for a weak open on Friday, as investors brace for April's crucial employment report, which is excepted to provide more clues as to when and how much the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates.
In corporate news, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. shares fell sharply before the open, after it issued its first-ever profit warning since it went public four years ago.
Shares of Krispy Kreme fell to $29.41 on the INET electronic brokerage, down from their Thursday close of $31.80 on the New York Stock Exchange. The doughnut chain cut its earnings forecast by 10 percent, as the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets hurt demand for its doughnuts.
April's jobs growth will not likely be as impressive as it was in March, but economists believe the strengthening U.S. economy still created a respectable number of new jobs.
The Labor Department's payrolls report is expected to show 173,000 jobs were created in April, compared with 308,000 in March, according to economists polled by Reuters.
Stocks have been pinned in a narrow range, as worries about the size and timing of future interest rate increases have unsettled Wall Street. Financial markets have priced in a rate hike by September, but a strong reading could fuel speculation the Fed may raise rates as early as June. The payrolls report is due at 8:30 a.m. (1230 GMT).
"Everything depends on the unemployment data today. The market's going to scrutinize this report, and the end result will be if the market focuses on a rate hike happening in June, or in August," said Peter Cardillo, chief market analyst at S.W. Bach and Co.
Equity index futures pointed to a soft open. Standard & Poor's 500 stock index futures for June eased 2.5 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures for the same month were off 2.5 points. Dow industrials futures declined 14 points.
In overseas markets, European stocks slipped, despite strength in major drugs, drinks and utility stocks, as investors braced for key U.S. April jobs data.
The FTSE Eurotop 300 index, which tracks the region's top 300 shares, was off 0.3 percent at 992 points. The narrower DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of euro zone blue chips, declined 0.3 percent to 2,757 points.
Overnight in Asia, Japanese stocks fell for a fifth straight session on Friday, with the benchmark Nikkei average marking a six-week closing low as investors worried about the prospect of higher U.S. interest rates.
The Nikkei fell 1.15 percent to 11,438.82, its lowest close since March 24. It has steadily lost ground since hitting a 33-month closing high of 12,163.89 on April 26. The broader TOPIX index ended down 1.23 percent at 1,150.89.
The Tokyo market was closed on April 29 and for the first three days of this week due to public holidays.
On Thursday, U.S. stocks ended lower, as the thought of higher interest rates coming as early as June weighed on investors ahead of the release of April's employment report.
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 69.69 points, or 0.68 percent, to 10,241.26, its second straight down session. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 7.54 points, or 0.67 percent, to 1,113.99. The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index fell 19.52 points, or 1.00 percent, to 1,937.74.
In corporate news, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. shares fell sharply before the open, after it issued its first-ever profit warning since it went public four years ago.
Shares of Krispy Kreme fell to $29.41 on the INET electronic brokerage, down from their Thursday close of $31.80 on the New York Stock Exchange. The doughnut chain cut its earnings forecast by 10 percent, as the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets hurt demand for its doughnuts.
April's jobs growth will not likely be as impressive as it was in March, but economists believe the strengthening U.S. economy still created a respectable number of new jobs.
The Labor Department's payrolls report is expected to show 173,000 jobs were created in April, compared with 308,000 in March, according to economists polled by Reuters.
Stocks have been pinned in a narrow range, as worries about the size and timing of future interest rate increases have unsettled Wall Street. Financial markets have priced in a rate hike by September, but a strong reading could fuel speculation the Fed may raise rates as early as June. The payrolls report is due at 8:30 a.m. (1230 GMT).
"Everything depends on the unemployment data today. The market's going to scrutinize this report, and the end result will be if the market focuses on a rate hike happening in June, or in August," said Peter Cardillo, chief market analyst at S.W. Bach and Co.
Equity index futures pointed to a soft open. Standard & Poor's 500 stock index futures for June eased 2.5 points, while Nasdaq 100 futures for the same month were off 2.5 points. Dow industrials futures declined 14 points.
In overseas markets, European stocks slipped, despite strength in major drugs, drinks and utility stocks, as investors braced for key U.S. April jobs data.
The FTSE Eurotop 300 index, which tracks the region's top 300 shares, was off 0.3 percent at 992 points. The narrower DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of euro zone blue chips, declined 0.3 percent to 2,757 points.
Overnight in Asia, Japanese stocks fell for a fifth straight session on Friday, with the benchmark Nikkei average marking a six-week closing low as investors worried about the prospect of higher U.S. interest rates.
The Nikkei fell 1.15 percent to 11,438.82, its lowest close since March 24. It has steadily lost ground since hitting a 33-month closing high of 12,163.89 on April 26. The broader TOPIX index ended down 1.23 percent at 1,150.89.
The Tokyo market was closed on April 29 and for the first three days of this week due to public holidays.
On Thursday, U.S. stocks ended lower, as the thought of higher interest rates coming as early as June weighed on investors ahead of the release of April's employment report.
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 69.69 points, or 0.68 percent, to 10,241.26, its second straight down session. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 7.54 points, or 0.67 percent, to 1,113.99. The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index fell 19.52 points, or 1.00 percent, to 1,937.74.