Down goes the Dow

That's one of the most sensible posts I've read in this thread, Tom.

Stock futures struggled for traction on Monday after last week's speech by Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen revived expectations that the central bank could raise interest rates by the end of this year.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures slipped 7 points to 18,373, while S&P 500 futures dipped 1.1 points to 2,167.50. Nasdaq 100 futures were off 3 points to 4,782.75.

Equities struggled across the globe on the view U.S. rates may rise in the near term and make the cost of borrowing more expensive. Japanese stocks, however, bucked the downbeat trend as the yen tumbled against the dollar on the fresh Fed thinking, triggering a 2.3% rally for the Nikkei 225 index . In Jackson Hole, Wyo. on Friday, Yellen noted signs of improvement in the U.S. economy and also hinted at a rate increase is on the cards in coming months.

Those comments pushed the Dow industrials and the S&P 500 lower on Friday, though the Nasdaq finished higher. Investors also paid close attention to an interview that same day with Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer who told CNBC in an interview that Yellen's speech was "consistent" with possibly two rate hikes this year.

Mixed Fed messages? Focus will now turn to this Friday's nonfarm payroll data for August. "Following two months of stellar jobs gains in June and July, we believe that another solid report could amplify further the case for a move this year, perhaps as early as at the next gathering," said Charalambos Pissouros, senior analyst at IronFX Global, in a note to investors.

The market is currently pricing in a 33% probability for a rate hike at the September Fed meeting and an almost 60% chance for it happening in December, according to the CME Group FedWatch tool.

But some accused the Fed of sending mixed signals. "I still think one needs a Bletchley Park code book to decipher the Fed's policy. I know I am not the brightest pin in the box, but I am all over the place with Fed talk," said David Buik, market commentator at Panmure Gordon & Co, in a note to clients.

Hi, K5/Igy! Who are you going to vote for now that Trump has indicated support for Israel?

Hi, K5/Igy! Those stories are really old. How about something fresh like that Hamas rocket attack on that Israeli kindergarten?

Earnings insight, 8/26/2016

With 98% of the companies in the S&P 500 reporting earnings to date for Q2 2016, 71% have reported earnings above the mean estimate and 53% have reported sales above the mean estimate.

Up triple digits! Life is good!

U.S. stock futures struggled for direction on Tuesday, with investors playing a waiting game in the run-up to the key jobs report later this week, as they weigh the prospects for an interest rate rise.

Investors are assessing Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer's comments on interest rates, which follow the hawkish tone taken last week by Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen.

Investors are also monitoring premarket action in Apple shares after the European Union's antitrust regulator said the company's tax deal in Ireland breached state-aid rules.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 3 points at 18,486.00. while those for the S&P 500 index slipped 0.80 point to 2,178.50. Futures for the Nasdaq-100 index were down 9.25 points, or 0.2%, to 4,784.00.

"Tuesday is likely to be one of the quieter days in an otherwise busy and important week for the markets, with investors having one eye on Friday's U.S. jobs report following Janet Yellen's hawkish comments at Jackson Hole on Friday," said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda, in a note.

U.S. stock markets closed higher on Monday, rebounding from Yellen-fueled losses. The S&P 500 index rose 0.5% Monday, while the Dow average ended 0.6% higher.

In her Jackson Hole comments, Yellen said the U.S. economy is improving, and that strengthens the case for an increase in interest rates this year. The nonfarm payrolls report at the end of the week will be assessed as to how it affects the prospects for tighter policy, and whether that could come as soon as the September meeting.

"Should we get a strong jobs report for August, then the next FOMC decision in three weeks will absolutely be a live meeting, whether markets want to accept that or not," Erlam said.

"A weak report probably leaves us back at square one from where the markets are positioned, because even now, they're reluctant to buy what the Fed is selling," he added.

Hey look.

All mention of Israeli massacres expunged from the thread.

Hi, K5/Igy! Actually the mods delete your posts because of all of your references to being butt hurt. I guess that won't stop until the Dow huts 13,000, huh?

Hey Igy -

saw this today in the journal - nutshell is that firms are being ordered not to use non-GAAP accounting as much. And they are complying.

I suppose that means earnings numbers will be bad for a year or so until we lap these out.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-play-up-standard-accounting-figures-1472495965

agip,

This is long overdue. Corporations have long attempted to deceive the mom & pop investor with their carefully crafted stories of higher earnings. Hopefully the regulators will put some teeth into this and make sure everyone is on a level playing field.

Igy

K5 detector wrote:

Hi, K5/Igy! Actually the mods delete your posts because of all of your references to being butt hurt. I guess that won't stop until the Dow huts 13,000, huh?

You need to become a far better liar.

Only posts with facts Israelis dupes don't want to see get deleted. We all know that.

Hi, K5/Igy! That was joke. Have you no sense of humor?

Also, don't forget to change your name back the next time you intend to reply as Igy. Otherwise you're going to have to perpetuate that imposter story to cover your ass.

K5 detector wrote:

Hi, K5/Igy! That was joke. Have you no sense of humor?

Also, don't forget to change your name back the next time you intend to reply as Igy. Otherwise you're going to have to perpetuate that imposter story to cover your ass.

Your posts are making less and less sense.

You may want to get a brain scan. Could be something going on there.

Oh there's plenty going on there. Too bad the same cannot be said for you. Hahahahahahahaha.

K5 detector wrote:

Oh there's plenty going on there. Too bad the same cannot be said for you. Hahahahahahahaha.

Seriously. Whatever you've got is getting progressively worse. Look at that creepy Hahaha nonsense.

Get help.

Thanks for the advice, K5/Igy, but I'm sure you'll understand my reluctance to take it given your miserable record with investment advice.

15 year number for vanguard total stock market index is over 7% per year for the first time

(Igy you may have to go to 16 year returns to get the full cherry picking effect)

Life is good!