Wall Street today: Nvidia gains 1.7% as US markets are mixed ahead of the presidential election.
Monday saw uneven US markets prices ahead of the presidential election on Tuesday and the Federal Reserve’s anticipated rate-cut decision later in the week.
At 1:57 p.m. Eastern time, the S&P 500 was down 0.1%. As the Nasdaq Composite increased by 0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.5%. As the US presidential election approaches Tuesday, opinion surveys show that Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican opponent Donald Trump are still essentially matched.
In Iowa, Kamala Harris is leading, per the most recent survey.
Later in the week, the US Federal Reserve is also anticipated to lower interest rates.
US currency
Investor caution ahead of a US presidential election caused the US dollar to fall on Monday.
In relation to a variety of European and Asian currencies, the dollar declined, falling 0.6% against the euro to $1.090 and 1% against the Japanese yen to 151.62.
Bullion
Monday’s gold prices saw minimal movement, with spot gold trading at $2,740.69 per ounce at 1237 GMT. At $2,749.80, U.S. gold futures were flat.
Spot silver hit a two-week low of $32.26 and then increased 1.1% to $32.79 an ounce.
Today’s price of gold: MCX Gold prices decline as investors await this week’s Fed policy announcement and the outcome of the US election.
Based on muted global cues and poor spot demand, old rates fell in the domestic futures market Tuesday morning. Ahead of the US election on November 5 and the US Fed policy announcement on November 7, investors limited their wagers.
The December 5 expiry price of MCX Gold was 0.11% lower at ₹78,336 per 10 grams at approximately 9:45 a.m. Investor anxiety is being exacerbated by the uncertainties surrounding the US election. According to opinion polls, Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris will face off closely. Gold prices fell on global markets, reflecting investors’ general hesitancy ahead of the election and Fed policy announcement.
Will a 25 basis point rate drop at the US Fed’s meeting lift the gloomy Indian stock market?
There are strong expectations that the US Federal Reserve would suggest a 25 basis point rate drop as it gets ready for its policy meeting this week.
The rate cut is expected to take place during a year with a presidential election, which will complicate the Fed’s decision-making process. The rate announcement is anticipated on Thursday, after the start of the two-day Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on Wednesday.
The most recent GDP statistics provide ample evidence that the US economy is doing well while also showing that inflationary pressures are low, with retail inflation figures barely missing the goal rate of 2%. In light of this, the Fed is expected to lower the Fed Funds Rate once again, most likely by 25 basis points,” Joseph Thomas, research head at Emkay Wealth, stated.
Effects of the US Fed rate drop on the Indian stock market
The Fed rate drop, according to the majority of analysts, won’t boost confidence, and investors will instead pay attention to Chair Jerome Powell’s analysis of changing inflation and GDP dynamics. Nonetheless, the Fed continues to exercise caution, keeping inflation risks in mind as geopolitical events unfold.
Even though the market might not be significantly affected by a 25 basis point rate drop, a hawkish Fed could disappoint investors and increase the amount of foreign capital leaving the Indian market.
Although a 25 basis point hike won’t have any impact on the market, the perspective and discussion will be more significant and noteworthy altogether. It would be detrimental if the Fed discussed holding the rate steady at the upcoming meeting,
according to Kotak Securities’ head of stock research, Shrikant Chouhan. The head of research at Arihant Capital Markets, Abhishek Jain, also emphasized that there is a 99 percent chance of a 25 basis point drop, which is the market’s strong preference.