Global Stocks Pressured After Fed Statement
- 8 years ago
Global stocks remained under pressure Thursday as investors digested the Federal Reserve's latest stance on interest rates.
Stock futures pointed to a 0.2% opening gain for the S&P 500, as upbeat earnings from Facebook Inc. and modest gains in crude oil prices boosted sentiment.
U.S. futures trimmed their gains after U.S. economic data released at 8:30 showed initial jobless claims fell and demand for durable goods declined last month.
But stocks in Europe and Asia moved lower following a weaker close on Wall Street, as some investors had hoped for a more explicit signal that the Fed would be cautious on rate increases after a rocky start to the year in financial markets.
The Fed lifted short-term interest rates by a quarter percentage point in December after years of ultraloose monetary policy boosted asset prices, and penciled in four more increases this year.
Stock futures pointed to a 0.2% opening gain for the S&P 500, as upbeat earnings from Facebook Inc. and modest gains in crude oil prices boosted sentiment.
U.S. futures trimmed their gains after U.S. economic data released at 8:30 showed initial jobless claims fell and demand for durable goods declined last month.
But stocks in Europe and Asia moved lower following a weaker close on Wall Street, as some investors had hoped for a more explicit signal that the Fed would be cautious on rate increases after a rocky start to the year in financial markets.
The Fed lifted short-term interest rates by a quarter percentage point in December after years of ultraloose monetary policy boosted asset prices, and penciled in four more increases this year.