Indexes:
The September E-mini S&P 500 stock index futures contract climbed to it latest all-time high yesterday, closing at 5715.50, only to see its largest sell-off in two years today, currently down ±72 points / 1.25%.
Leading the index pack, however, the September E-mini Nasdaq is currently down ±625 points / 3.00% and ±900 points from its own all-time high posted last Wednesday, closing then at 20,896.50 and breaching 20,000 at this blog’s typing.
Metals:
Gold prices traded up to an all-time high today on growing optimism the U.S. Federal Reserve will conduct an interest-rate cut in September. The front month August futures contract dropped about 0.26% to $2,459.90 per ounce due to profit-taking after hitting an all-time high of $2,488.40 earlier in the session.
Markets now see a 98% chance of a U.S. rate cut in September, according to the
CME FedWatch Tool.
Following suit, September silver lost ±95 cents (a ±$4750 per contract move) to near $30.50/ounce.
Energies:
Natural gas futures suffered another bout of heavy selling today with the front month August contract losing ±15 cents (a $1,500 per contract move) / 6.75% today and closing near two-month lows and within a few cents of $2.000 /mmBtu. Despite hot weather across much of the U.S. driving power-sector demand, large inventory surplus numbers have proved an overhang for prices
Levels for July 18th 2024 below: