How are stock-index futures trading On Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA rose 327 points, or 0.98%, to 33601, the S&P 500 SPX increased 15 points, or 0.37%, to 4125, and the Nasdaq Composite COMP dropped 32 points, or 0.27%, to 12189.
What’s driving markets Calmer conditions in energy and bond markets, and the looming catalysts of jobs data and company earnings, are so far discouraging equity investors from making bold bets early on Tuesday. “For investors keen to see an end to the monetary tightening environment…U.S. manufacturing activity dipped to its lowest level in almost three years in March, with new orders slumping amid the possibility of further falls if the expected credit tightening from banks washes through,” said Stephen Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor.
Then next week sees the start of the first-quarter corporate earnings season, possibly another reason for caution.