The week started out with mixed moves as the Dow and S&P 500 closed Monday in the red while the NASDAQ added gains. Major Energy brands retreated on news of increased crude oil inventories. Similarly, West Texas Intermediate crude oil slipped 3.9% to settle at $39.99 a barrel. The Institute for Supply Management’s Manufacturing Index fell by 0.6 point to 52.6, but despite the decrease, production ticked up and new orders held on to most of June’s gain. The indices fell fully into the red on Tuesday as oil prices weighed on the market. Crude oil shed 1.4%, settling at $39.51 a barrel. U.S. consumer spending rose 0.4% in June versus expectations of a 0.3% increase. Additionally, personal income edged up 0.2% for the same month, versus an expected 0.3% uptick. Stocks stepped up Wednesday on rebounding oil and other economic news. West Texas Intermediate crude tacked on 4.05% to settle at $41.11 a barrel. The Institute for Supply Management’s Non-Manufacturing Index registered a reading of 55.5, down from 56.5 in June. Results were mixed the following day as stocks traded relatively flat ahead of the July payroll report. Labor Department data showed initial jobless claims increased by 3,000 to 269,000 last week versus expectations of a dip to 263,000. Continuing claims decreased by 6,000 to 2.138 million in the week ended July 23. Indices closed Friday’s trading session in the green zone with the S&P 500 and NASDAQ hitting all-time high levels. Labor Department data showed the U.S. economy added 255,000 jobs in July versus an expected addition of 185,000. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.9% versus an expected decrease to 4.8%. Meanwhile, June’s numbers were upwardly revised to 292,000 from 287,000.
