The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined for a fifth-straight day Friday amid economic uncertainty.
The blue-chip index rallied more than 200 points shortly after the market opened, before falling back into the red by about 55 points. The S&P 500 traded near the flatline and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.3%.
For the holiday-shortened week, the Dow is down 1.5% and on pace for its second negative week in a row. The S&P 500 is off by about 0.9% for the week, while the Nasdaq Composite is 0.5% lower.
Investors are worried about persistent Covid cases slowing the economy just as hot inflation causes the Federal Reserve to take away easy policies. The August producer prices index released Friday showed wholesale costs for businesses rose 8.3% on an annual basis, its biggest advance on record since at least 2010. The PPI accelerated 0.7% for the month, above the 0.6% Dow Jones estimate. The more important consumer price index for August will be released on Tuesday.
The Federal Reserve kicks off a two-day meeting on Sept. 21, and the Street will be watching for an update on the Fed’s bond-buying program. On Thursday the European Central Bank left its monetary policy unchanged, but said that it will slow the pace of its asset-purchase program.
“The pace of policy changes will be gradual enough not to derail the economic recovery or the equity rally, while the differences between the more hawkish and more dovish central banks will create opportunities,” said Mark Haefele, UBS Global Wealth Management chief investment officer.
“We expect major central banks to remain supportive of growth, keeping rates lower for longer. This is positive for equity markets, particularly cyclical and value areas of the market,” he added.
President Joe Biden stiffened his stance on getting Americans vaccinated on Thursday, outlining a plan to mandate Covid vaccines for millions. Federal employees will be required to get a Covid vaccine and the president is asking the Labor Department to require employers with more than 100 employees to mandate vaccines or weekly testing.
“Ultimately, we see stocks finishing September strongly,” wrote Fundstrat’s Tom Lee in a note to clients late Thursday. “Delta variant organically looks to be slowing…White House plan really brings hammer to containing COVID-19.”
Biden’s phone call Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first time the two world leaders spoke since February, also added to positive market sentiment.
The major averages are still hovering around their all-time highs. The Dow is roughly 1.8% below its record, while the Nasdaq and S&P are less than 1% from theirs.
Become a smarter investor with CNBC Pro.
Get stock picks, analyst calls, exclusive interviews and access to CNBC TV.
Sign up to start a free trial today
