"When (jobs) misses by so much and there's negative adjustments to the months that preceded it there's a concern at the back of your mind It's a moronic (plunge) into stocks (that say) because the economy is bad the Fed has to hold off," said Robert Pavlik, chief market strategist at Boston Private Wealth. "I'd rather be in a car that's moving forward."
The major averages turned positive in early trade as the morning's service sector and manufacturing data continued to indicate moderate growth. Traders took the lack of significant growth as a sign of further dovish policy from the Federal Reserve.
"This puts September much more in play than June, if June was ever in play," said Mark Luschini, chief investment strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott.
With the weaker jobs report, PNC's economics team pushed back its expectations of a rate hike to September from the previous estimate for a July liftoff.
"The labor market is getting better. It's not where we want it to be but definitely getting to the right place," said Gus Faucher, senior macroeconomist at PNC Financial Services. "What the Fed wants to see is further indications that there's tightening in the job market and slack being absorbed," he said
One encouraging sign is the market share of part-time employees peaked at 6.6 percent in 2010 and is now down to 4.5 percent, Faucher said. He noted the economy should see "above-trend growth for the rest of the year."
Crude oil settled up 6.11 percent, up $ 3.00, at $52.14 a barrel on increased pressure on supply from Iran and Saudi Arabia. The gains lifted energy stocks 2 percent as the leading sector in the S&P 500.
Investors also found encouragement from the U.S. dollar, which held steady while the euro traded near $1.09. The greenback is down nearly 2 percent for April after rapid advances earlier in the year.
A "no longer rising dollar is encouraging," said Nick Raich, CEO of The Earnings Scout. "I think the rally today is (investors thinking) the jobs number is so bad the Fed goes on pause and that gives relief for the dollar."
The U.S. 2-year Treasury yield held steady near 0.50 percent while the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield (US10Y) gained to 1.91 percent from 1.85 percent earlier.
The Dow Jones industrial average traded about one percent higher on Monday, holding in the black for the year. The blue chip index gained more than 150 points after falling triple digits in the open.
"I don't know why bad (economic) news continues to be good news," said Peter Boockvar, chief market analyst at The Lindsey Group, who noted the weaker dollar.
Markets were closed on Friday and stocks opened sharply lower on Monday, following futures that plunged after the monthly employment report showed the addition of 126,000 jobs, far below the estimated 245,000 from a Reuters poll.
"Maybe this will kick off a correction, which I think will be healthy," said Maris Ogg, president of Tower Bridge Advisors, noting that the "is very fairly valued" and earnings expectations are low to negative.
"The theme of 'data dependent' is back in the market," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Rockwell Global Capital. He still expects the Federal Reserve to raise rates in the second half of this year, but said that weaker economic data could push a rate hike out to 2016.
The ISM nonmanufacturing Index was 56.5 in March, its lowest level in three months but in line with estimates. The Markit Purchasing Managers Index rose to 59.2 in March, the highest level since August.
On Tuesday, traders will eye the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) as one of the few other economic indicators coming out this week.
"We really don't get much (data) this week. That's why we're getting a bigger reaction (in stocks)," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Wunderlich Securities. Stability in the dollar cross "is helping markets as well."
Pressure from the strong dollar weighed on corporate profits last quarter and is expected to continue to be a headwind. Analysts are also watching for the effects of lower oil prices.
Alcoa (AA) reports quarterly results this Wednesday in the unofficial start to the earnings season.
"The dollar is a little softer. It should be a lot softer," said Peter Schiff, CEO of Euro Pacific Capital. "The biggest disconnect is that people actually think the U.S. economy is recovering" and will lead to a rate hike soon.
European markets were closed for both Good Friday and Easter Monday. Asian stocks outside Japan gained on hopes the weak jobs report would push out a rate hike by the Federal Reserve.
U.S. stock futures continued to indicate a lower open following remarks by New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley that the central bank will watch subsequent data to see if March's report was an aberration or an indicator of greater economic weakness. Weekly jobless claims have held to lower levels and had suggested a stronger read on monthly nonfarm payrolls.
Dudley was the first Fed official to speak publicly since the March labor report.
© Provided by CNBC Over the weekend, Greece's finance minister told reporters in Washington after a meeting with International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde that the country "intends to meet all obligations to all its creditors, ad infinitum." Athens is due to pay the IMF 450 million euros ($494 million) Thursday.
In U.S. corporate news, Tesla (TSLA) delivered 10,030 vehicles during the first quarter, its highest quarterly total ever and a 55 percent increase over the first quarter of 2014.
Lorillard (LO) and Reynolds American (RAI) are on watch today, on a shift in sentiment about whether a proposed merger between the tobacco giants will be allowed to proceed. The stocks had fallen in recent weeks on sentiment that it would be rejected, but reports emerged late last week that the FTC was leaning towards a proposed compromise that would allow it to go through.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) traded up 151 points. or 0.85 percent, at 17,915, with Microsoft (MSFT) leading advancers and Johnson and Johnson (JNJ) the greatest of three blue chip laggards.
The S&P 500 (.SPX) traded up 17 points, or 0.83 percent, at 2,084, with energy leading all 10 sectors higher.
The Nasdaq (.IXIC) traded up 34 points, or 0.69 percent, at 4,920.
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) (.VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, traded near 14.
For every three advancers about one declined on the New York Stock Exchange, with an exchange volume of 431 million and a composite volume of 2.2 billion in afternoon trade.
Gold futures settled at $1,218.60 an ounce, its highest since February 13.
More from CNBC.com:
Stocks rally as traders eye economic data, steady dollar
No comments:
Post a Comment