Not until after June employment report and half-day session will investors begin long July 4 fete.
July 3, 2003: 5:25 AM EDT
By Mark M. Meinero, CNN/Money Staff Writer
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Before Wall Street gets to its extra-long Independence Day weekend, it first must sort Thursday through the June employment number, last week's jobless claims and a reading of the nation's services sector.
At 5:25 a.m. ET (0925 GMT), futures pointed to a slightly lower open. U.S. trading will end at 1 p.m. ET (1700 GMT) and won't resume until Monday morning.
Because Friday is a national holiday, the government is issuing the June unemployment report on a Thursday. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com expect something of a dud: no change in the number of non-farm jobs and a rise in the jobless rate to 6.2 percent from 6.1 percent in May.
Also due before trading begins is the report on initial unemployment claims for the week ended June 28. The number is forecast to have risen to 412,000 from 404,000 the prior week.
After trading begins, the Institute for Supply Management releases its June report on the services sector. The index is seen showing expansion, which is any reading above 50, rising to 55 from 54.5.
For details of Wednesday's advance, click above
The Dow Jones industrial average, after gaining 1.1 percent Wednesday following an upgrade of Microsoft by Merrill Lynch, is up by nearly 154 points for the week entering its final session. The Nasdaq composite index also holds an advantage for the week to date, up more than 53 points after a 2.4 percent rally. (see chart for details of Wednesday's gain)
Asian-Pacific stocks ended mostly higher Thursday, with the 0.3 percent gain for Tokyo's Nikkei index resulting in another nine-month higher. European markets opened higher. (Check the latest on world markets)
Among U.S. stocks trading in Europe, Boeing (BA: Research, Estimates) was nearly 1 percent higher. The U.S. aircraft builder said Thursday that it expects to offer the new 7E7 jetliner next year.
Treasury prices retreated in early trading, sending the 10-year note yield up to 3.63 percent from 3.54 percent late Wednesday. The dollar gained against the yen and euro.
Brent oil futures rose 3 cents to $27.95 a barrel in London, where gold pulled lower.
O Clubeinvest.com informa que nenhuma da informação
aqui facultada deverá ser entendida como conselho ou recomendação
de qualquer tipo de transacção ou investimento.
