• US job openings fall to the lowest since April 2021

• Bets for a 50bps rate cut increase

• Wall Street moves between gains and loses

 

US JOLTs job openings retreated to the lowest in three and a half years of 7.76 million in July compared to the forecast of 8.09 million expected and June’s negatively revised reading of 7.91 million.

The data followed a negative surprise in the ISM manufacturing PMI, with investors further raising the odds for a double rate cut to 45% on concerns the economy might be on the brink of a downturn in the face of monetary tightening.

Wall Street continued to trade with some caution near Tuesday’s lows despite showing some appetite for recovery as Treasury yields declined. The Dow Jones, which is less sensitive to tech stocks, rose initially as high as $41,171 after finding support near a familiar protective trendline at $40,765, though it soon came under pressure near its 20-period simple moving averages (SMA), erasing most of its gains.

Now, the question is whether Friday’s nonfarm payrolls will boost stock markets or amplify recession concerns, pushing the price below $40,765 and towards the 50-period SMA at $40,400.