Dow Jones pivots in place after Wednesday's mixed US data (2024)

  • Dow Jones cycles 38,700.00 after US labor preview eases.
  • US ISM Services PMI accelerated to multi-month highs.
  • Mixed data hinted enough softness to bolster rate cut hopes further.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) treaded water on Wednesday, grappling with 38,750.00. After US data printed mixed, rate cut expectations held on the high side but gains in the Dow Jones index remain limited.

US ADP Employment Change in May eased to 152K compared to the forecast 173K, and the previous month’s print also saw a downside revision to 188K from 192K. US ISM Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) jumped to a nine-month high of 53.8, well above the forecast 50.8 and vaulting over the previous 16-month low of 49.4.

Despite a healthy uptick in services activities, markets are focusing on the cooling effect of easing ADP labor figures. According to the CME’s FedWatch Tool, rate markets are pricing in 80% odds of a rate cut of at least 25 basis points at the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) September rate meeting.

Broader markets will be pivoting to look ahead to Friday’s upcoming US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) print, which is forecast to increase to 185K from the previous month’s 175K. With rate cut hopes pinning into the high side once more, investors will be looking for a softer NFP print and downside revisions to previous figures.

Dow Jones news

The Dow Jones is holding steady on Wednesday, with roughly half of the index’s stocks in the green during the midweek market session. Intel Corp (INTC) rose around 2.0%, climbing over $30.00 per share. On the low end, Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) tumbled -3.26% to $45.88 per share on Wednesday, falling to a new 52-week low as investors remain skeptical about the profitability of Cisco System’s newly-unveiled AI-driven ThousandEyes internet monitoring unit. Cisco’s ThousandEyes is billed as an internet-mapping and automated security tool.

Dow Jones technical outlook

Dow Jones is trading tightly near 38,700.00 on Wednesday as the major equity index struggles to share gains found by similar US indexes. The DJIA is struggling under the weight of near-term losses after tumbling from record highs above 40,000.00.

Daily candlesticks are knocking on a supply zone below 38,000.00, and long-term technical support is priced in at the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 37,297.33. The Dow Jones has arrest a near-term decline, but still remains down -3.35% from record high bids set in mid-May.

Dow Jones five minute chartDow Jones pivots in place after Wednesday's mixed US data (1)

Dow Jones daily chartDow Jones pivots in place after Wednesday's mixed US data (2)

Dow Jones FAQs

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, one of the oldest stock market indices in the world, is compiled of the 30 most traded stocks in the US. The index is price-weighted rather than weighted by capitalization. It is calculated by summing the prices of the constituent stocks and dividing them by a factor, currently 0.152. The index was founded by Charles Dow, who also founded the Wall Street Journal. In later years it has been criticized for not being broadly representative enough because it only tracks 30 conglomerates, unlike broader indices such as the S&P 500.

Many different factors drive the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). The aggregate performance of the component companies revealed in quarterly company earnings reports is the main one. US and global macroeconomic data also contributes as it impacts on investor sentiment. The level of interest rates, set by the Federal Reserve (Fed), also influences the DJIA as it affects the cost of credit, on which many corporations are heavily reliant. Therefore, inflation can be a major driver as well as other metrics which impact the Fed decisions.

Dow Theory is a method for identifying the primary trend of the stock market developed by Charles Dow. A key step is to compare the direction of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and the Dow Jones Transportation Average (DJTA) and only follow trends where both are moving in the same direction. Volume is a confirmatory criteria. The theory uses elements of peak and trough analysis. Dow’s theory posits three trend phases: accumulation, when smart money starts buying or selling; public participation, when the wider public joins in; and distribution, when the smart money exits.

There are a number of ways to trade the DJIA. One is to use ETFs which allow investors to trade the DJIA as a single security, rather than having to buy shares in all 30 constituent companies. A leading example is the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA). DJIA futures contracts enable traders to speculate on the future value of the index and Options provide the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the index at a predetermined price in the future. Mutual funds enable investors to buy a share of a diversified portfolio of DJIA stocks thus providing exposure to the overall index.

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Dow Jones pivots in place after Wednesday's mixed US data (2024)

FAQs

What does the Dow Jones tell us about the stock market? ›

“The Dow Jones industrial average is an instant way of telling the world which way the market is moving, even if the average isn't an accurate measure of the thousands of stocks listed on the nation's exchanges.” Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on May 16, 2024.

What did the Dow Jones Industrials close at today? ›

Major Stock Indexes
KEY U.S.LAST% CHG
DJIA39150.330.04%
Nasdaq Composite17689.36-0.18%
S&P 5005464.62-0.16%
Russell 20002022.030.23%
30 more rows

What is the Dow Jones formula? ›

Calculation. To calculate the Dow Jones Index, the sum of the prices of all 30 stocks is divided by a divisor, the Dow Divisor. The divisor is adjusted in case of stock splits, spinoffs, or similar structural changes to ensure that such events do not in themselves alter the numerical value of the DJIA.

How does the Dow Jones relate to the US economy? ›

The Dow 30 is a stock index comprised of 30 large, publicly-traded U.S. companies that acts as a barometer of the U.S. stock market and economy. An index measures the performance of a basket of securities intended to replicate a certain area of the market, such as the Standard & Poor's 500.

Who is Dow Jones owned by? ›

Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

(also known simply as Dow Jones) is an American publishing firm owned by News Corp and led by CEO Almar Latour. Dow Jones & Company, Inc. U.S. The company publishes The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, MarketWatch, Mansion Global, Financial News and Private Equity News.

Should Christians invest in the stock market? ›

The Bible doesn't specifically state that we should invest, but also does not forbid it. Investing is mentioned in Proverbs 31:16 and used in Jesus's parables (ex. Parable of the Ten Minas found in Luke 19:11-27), implying that it is expected and normal.

What is the US stock market doing right now? ›

US Markets
SYMBOLPRICECHANGE
NASDAQ17,862.23+5.21
S&P 5005,487.03+13.8
*GOLD2,357+10.1
*OIL81.54-0.03
4 more rows

What is the average stock market return over 30 years? ›

Average Stock Market Returns Per Year
Years Averaged (as of end of April 2024)Stock Market Average Return per Year (Dividends Reinvested)Average Return with Dividends Reinvested & Inflation Adjusted
30 Years10.473%7.743%
20 Years9.882%7.13%
10 Years12.579%9.521%
5 Years13.712%9.246%
3 more rows
May 15, 2024

What is the YTD stock market return? ›

YTD return is the amount of profit (or loss) realized by an investment since the first trading day of the current calendar year. YTD calculations are commonly used by investors and analysts to assess the performance of a portfolio or to compare the recent performance of a number of stocks.

What is the Dow Jones strategy? ›

Dow theory says that the market is in an upward trend if one of its averages goes above a previous important high and is accompanied or followed by a similar movement in the other average. Therefore, a Dow theory trading strategy is based on a trend-following strategy​, and can either be bullish or bearish.

Do you buy or sell in a bullish market? ›

Ideally, as investors see what appears to be the start of a bull market, they might buy stocks, stock mutual funds, and ETFs. As the bull market surges higher, they might consider selling some of their equity holdings. At the very least, they should continue with their normal rebalancing regimen.

What is Dow Jones in layman terms? ›

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, or the Dow for short, is one way of measuring the stock market's overall direction. It includes the prices of 30 of the most actively traded stocks. When the Dow goes up, it is considered bullish, and most stocks usually do well.

Will the stock market go up in 2024? ›

The S&P 500 generated an impressive 26.29% total return in 2023, rebounding from an 18.11% setback in 2022. Heading into 2024, investors are optimistic the same macroeconomic tailwinds that fueled the stock market's 2023 rally will propel the S&P 500 to new all-time highs in 2024.

Will Dow reach $40,000? ›

The Dow Jones hits 40,000 points for the first time ever : NPR. The Dow Jones hits 40,000 points for the first time ever Stock markets received a boost from new data showing inflation is easing. Lower inflation has raised hopes about the U.S. economy — but there are still a lot of unknowns.

What is the largest stock exchange in the world? ›

New York Stock Exchange

But it has remained the largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalisation ever since the end of World War I, when it overtook the London Stock Exchange.

What does it mean when the Dow is high? ›

Overall, a rise in the Dow signifies a rise in the share prices of constituent companies that reflect a positive outlook and vice versa. Over time, the DJIA can be used as a benchmark for the economy. The largest single-day percentage drop in the DJIA was on Oct. 19, 1987, when the index dropped over 20%.

What is the Dow Jones for dummies? ›

Simply put, the Dow Jones is an index that measures the performance of 30 large, publicly-traded companies listed on the stock exchanges in the United States.

What does Dow Jones screen against? ›

Sanctions: Screen against Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), Relatives and Close Associates (RCA), Special Interest Persons (SIP) or Special Interest Entities (SIE). High-Risk PEPs: Detect PEPs and RCAs with occupations and relationships that are considered high-risk.

What is the Dow theory used for in the stock market? ›

The goal of Dow Theory is to identify the overall direction of the stock market, or the primary trend. By analyzing the movements of the major stock indexes, such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and the Dow Jones Transportation Average (DJTA).

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