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REFILE-Wall St wavers, gold climbs in the middle of economic, geopolitical crosswinds

U.S. stocks dithered on Thursday, swinging from red to green and back as financiers competed with the pushpull of a strong economy and limiting Federal Reserve policy.

Criteria Treasury yields resumed their climb and gold included strength as continuous turmoil in the Middle East strengthened the safe-haven play.

All three major U.S. stock indexes fluctuated throughout the session, with weakness in the chip sector weighing the Nasdaq down the most.

New York Fed President John Williams, mentioning financial strength, said on Thursday he does not see a convincing case for cutting the reserve bank's policy rate now.

On Tuesday Fed Chair Jerome Powell declined to offer guidance on when rates might be lowered.

Markets are still recalibrating what 'higher for longer' methods and whether there will be any rates of interest cut at all this year from the Fed, said Oliver Pursche, senior vice president at Wealthspire Advisors, in New York City.

If 4 months ago if I stated there's a genuine possibility the Fed won't reduce rates at all in 2024, the response would have likely been that will create a massive sell off in stocks, Pursche included.

So, why hasn't it? The reason is business earnings appear to be strong, the economy is continuing to carry out well and inflation continues to cool down albeit in an unequal way, he stated.

A survey of 100 financial experts showed the Fed will execute its very first rate cut in September, and cut perhaps as soon as more this year.

Ultimately every central bank chooses being neutral in its policy position as opposed to either accommodative or restrictive, Pursche said. The Fed wishes to be able to signal that they've done a good task and the very best method to do that is to lower rates.

Economic information released on Thursday painted a blended photo, with low out of work claims and solid factory information versus weaker-than-expected home sales and leading economic index readings.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 5.8 points, or 0.02%, to 37,747.51, the S&P 500 lost 13.89 points, or 0.28%, to 5,008.32 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 81.31 points, or 0.52%, to 15,602.07.

European stocks ended higher as upbeat outcomes raised the benchmark index, balancing out uncertainties surrounding geopolitical tensions and the timing of central bank rate cuts.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index increased 0.24%, while MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe shed 0.03%.

Emerging market stocks rose 0.42%. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan closed 0.55%. higher, while Japan's Nikkei increased 0.31%.

Treasury yields hovered near their highest levels given that. November as strong economic information reinforced cautions from Fed. authorities that the inflation cool-down may have stalled.

Benchmark 10-year notes last fell 14/32 in cost. to yield 4.6429%, from 4.585% late on Monday.

The 30-year bond last fell 21/32 in rate to. yield 4.7417%, from 4.699% late on Monday.

The dollar firmed against a basket of world currencies as. data verified the U.S. economy is on strong ground, supporting. the idea that the Fed could delay its very first rate cut.

The dollar index increased 0.19%, with the euro. down 0.23% to $1.0646.

The Japanese yen weakened 0.12% versus the greenback at. 154.59 per dollar. Sterling was last trading at $1.2439,. down 0.06% on the day.

World oil prices dipped as financiers juggled U.S. sanctions. on Venezuela and Iran, and robust financial information versus the. wider background of demand concerns and simmering Middle East. stress.

U.S. unrefined inched up 0.05% to settle at $82.73 per. barrel, while Brent settled at $87.11 down 0.21% on the. day.

Gold climbed as the safe-haven metal gained from continuous. Middle East turmoil and the possibility of less than anticipated U.S. rate cuts this year.

Area gold added 0.9% to $2,382.33 an ounce.

(source: Reuters)