U.S. stocks opened lower Wednesday as rising oil prices and Treasury yields pressured investors, before a strong September business survey added fresh concerns about inflation and borrowing costs. S&P Global’s preliminary report showed the fastest private-sector expansion in more than five years, accompanied by mounting supply constraints and price pressures.
At the 9:30 a.m. Eastern opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 92.3 points, or 0.18%, to 51,771.41. The S&P 500 slipped 2.7 points, or 0.03%, to 7,761.94, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 30.8 points, or 0.11%, to 27,213.52. These are opening figures, not subsequent trading levels.
The economic report arrived at 9:45 a.m., after those initial declines. It sharpened the question facing markets: Can businesses keep expanding rapidly without generating enough inflation to require further Federal Reserve tightening?
S&P Global’s flash Composite PMI Output Index, which tracks manufacturing and services, climbed to 58.4 in September from 56.0 in August. That was its highest reading since July 2021. A reading above 50 signals expansion.
The strength was broad, with activity improving across factories and service businesses. Companies increased hiring to handle growing orders, but also reported difficulty finding suitable workers. Unfinished work accumulated as demand stretched operating capacity.
S&P Global said the survey was consistent with economic growth running at approximately a 5% annualized pace. That is an estimate inferred from survey responses, not an official government measurement of gross domestic product.
For businesses, stronger orders offer a welcome source of revenue. The difficulty is fulfilling them profitably when staffing, supplies and transportation become more expensive or harder to secure.
The survey’s input-price measure rose to 66.4 from 59.9, reaching its highest level since October 2022. Companies also reported longer supplier delivery times and shortages. Those readings indicate more intense cost pressure; they do not mean prices rose by 66.4%.
Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, warned that growing backlogs and limited capacity were giving companies greater pricing power. That creates a risk that strong demand will translate into additional increases for customers.
The bond market reflected that concern. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note moved back above 5% following the PMI release, according to Trading Economics. Higher market yields can increase financing costs and make interest-paying investments more competitive with stocks.
Housing is particularly sensitive to borrowing costs. Mortgage rates respond to longer-term financial conditions, although they do not move in lockstep with either the 10-year Treasury or the Fed’s benchmark rate.
Fed Governor Michael Barr addressed that distinction Wednesday, saying monetary policy influences mortgage rates alongside other factors. He also warned that high home prices combined with elevated mortgage rates have put ownership beyond the reach of many families.
The Fed raised its benchmark rate by a quarter percentage point on Sept. 16, bringing the target range to 3.75%–4%. Officials’ median projection indicated another quarter-point increase by year-end, although projections remain conditional assessments rather than promised decisions.
Barr reinforced the case for further tightening in his Wednesday remarks. He said economic growth and employment remained solid, while inflation was above the central bank’s 2% target and was not clearly moving toward it quickly enough.
“In my base case, further policy adjustments are likely to be needed,” he said.
For investors, the competing forces are clear. Stronger demand can support corporate earnings, but rising costs can squeeze margins. Higher interest rates also increase financing expenses and reduce the present value investors assign to profits expected far into the future.
The next question is whether businesses can expand capacity fast enough to meet demand without repeatedly raising prices. Markets will be watching subsequent inflation and employment reports, together with oil and Treasury trading, for evidence that growth can remain strong while price pressures ease.
JBizNews Desk | Wall Street
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