US stocks mixed at open, Nasdaq continues to outperform
Major US equity indices witnessed a positive opening on Monday, supported by deal among Congressional leaders to avert a government shutdown.
The positive opening, however, lacked follow through momentum, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average quickly reversing early gains to turn flat at 20,942. Meanwhile, the broader S&P 500 Index was trading higher by over 4-points to 2,388, while tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index continued with its outperformance and added nearly 25-points to move closer to intraday record highs.
On the economic data front, weaker-than-expected readings on consumer spending, personal income and inflation data also weighed on investors' sentiment and collaborated towards keeping a lid on the up-move. Personal income climbed 0.2% in March, while consumer spending remained unchanged. Meanwhile, the core PCE Price Index fell 0.1% and took the yearly rate farther below 2.0% mark, to 1.6% y-o-y in March.
With investors preparing to reposition ahead this week's key event risks - FOMC meeting and monthly jobs report (NFP), market might turn volatile amid thin-liquidity conditions in wake of a trading holiday around the world, including most of Europe.