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Stocks slip as yields rise; dollar hits highest in more than 2 years

Stock indexes dipped on Monday, while the U.S. dollar index hit its highest in more than two years, after last week's blowout U.S. jobs data triggered financiers to weigh the possibility that the Federal Reserve might have finished cutting rates of interest.

U.S. Treasury 10-year yields touched a 14-month high.

Investors are anxiously awaiting Wednesday's U.S. Consumer Rate Index reading. Any benefit surprises could underscore the view that the Fed may be done with rate cuts for now. A Reuters poll of economists gives a typical forecast for an annual increase of 2.9%, up from November's 2.7%, and for a regular monthly boost of 0.3%.

U.S. producer prices data is due on Tuesday.

The December work report on Friday showed 256,000 workers were added to nonfarm payrolls - well above expectations for a rise of 160,000 and the most significant boost because March.

Financiers also stress whether inflation might pick up as a. outcome of the policies on tariffs, migration and taxes of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inbound administration.

As of Monday, the U.S. rate futures market was pricing in. just 27 basis points of alleviating this year, or one rate cut, most. likely, either in September or October, according to LSEG. quotes.

It'll be touch and go for the next couple of days up until we. get the inflation news out of the way, said Peter Cardillo,. chief market economic expert at Spartan Capital Securities in New. York.

The Fed has become more hawkish at this time, and. investors are thinking about the possibility that the U.S. might have. seen the end of rate cuts, Cardillo added.

The next Fed policy meeting is arranged for Jan. 28-29.

The benchmark 10-year yield increased to 4.799%, the highest. given that November 2023, and was last up at 4.796%.

U.S. stocks were mixed, with the benchmark S&P 500 and. Nasdaq lower as bond yields surged. The Dow was greater.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 327.13 points,. or 0.78%, to 42,267.13, the S&P 500 increased 3.51 points, or. 0.06%, to 5,830.71 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 112.53. points, or 0.58%, to 19,050.53.

The fourth-quarter U.S. incomes reporting season likewise gets. under way today with outcomes expected from some of the. greatest U.S. banks including JPMorgan Chase.

MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe fell. 2.50 points, or 0.30%, to 831.36. The STOXX 600 index. fell 0.55%.

We have a lot of uncertainty entering play, including. the potential policy modifications under Trump, said Adam Sarhan,. chief executive of 50 Park Investments in New York City.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback versus a. basket of currencies, was up 0.21% at 109.9. It increased to its. highest in more than two years on Monday, peaking at 110.17. , adding to the current rally.

The euro was down 0.34% at $1.0209. Versus the. Japanese yen, the dollar reinforced 0.01% to 157.72. A dive in energy rates added to investor worry over inflation,. as Brent futures increased above $80 a barrel to their highest level. in more than 4 months amidst larger U.S. sanctions on Russian. oil. U.S. natural gas futures hit two-year highs.

U.S. crude increased $2.25 to settle at $78.82 a barrel. and Brent rose to $1.25 to settle at $81.01.

With the dollar acquiring, gold fell 0.9% to $2,664.49. per ounce. Gold usually struggles to contend for investor money. in a high-yield, high-dollar environment.

(source: Reuters)