Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Target All-Time Highs Ahead of Epic Data Deluge, Crypto Coins News

Following a quiet month, the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq could all end October at record highs.
However, a slew of economic data releases could inject renewed volatility into the market.
Here’s what investors should look out for this week.

The Dow sprang higher on Monday, as the US stock market’s three primary indices all ticked closer toward ending the month at new all-time highs.

October has been a relatively quiet month for US stocks. Neither third-quarter earnings results, new developments in the trade war, nor recession warnings managed to ignite a breakout.

Will this week’s data deluge change that?

Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq All Target New All-Time Highs

On Monday, theDow Jones Industrial Averagesurged 183. 86 points or 0. 68% to 27, 141. 92. After trading within a 1, 000 point range throughout the month, the Dow now sits less than a few hundred points short of 27, 398. 68, the highwater mark it set in July.

The Dow soared closer to the all-time high it set in July. | Source:Yahoo Finance

The S&P 500 jumped to a record high following Monday’s opening bell. An 18. 95 point or 0. 63% rally launched the large-cap index to 3, 041. 51, well above its previous record of 3, 027. 98.

The Nasdaq secured a similar advance, bouncing 55. 30 points or 0. 67% to 8, 298. 42. The tech-heavy index now sits comfortably within striking distance of setting a new record above 8, 339. 64.

However, standing in the way of the US stock market’s push toward new highs are a slew of data releases set to drop over the next four days.

Economic Growth Indicators Could Dampen – or Magnify – Recession Alarms

Chief on Wall Street’s mind will be the following data releases, which will provide a broad picture of US economic growth. Positive data could dampenrecession warnings, but worse-than-expected readings could magnify Bearish Forecasts. *******

Advance GDP (Oct. 30, 8: 30 am)
Advance GDP Price Index (Oct. 30, 8: 30 am)
Core PCE Price Index (Oct. 31, 8: 30 am)
Employment Cost Index (Oct. 31, 8: 30 am)

The US economy continues to bask in its longest-ever expansion. No one denies that the expansion can’t last forever, but analysts disagree about when the next recession will strike – and what it will look like once it arrives.

Manufacturing Data Reveals Impact of Trade War on US Economy

Although President Trump touts the trade war as a boon to the US economy, recent data releases have made it difficult to deny thattariffs are weighing on the manufacturing sector.

Chicago PMI (Oct. 31, 9: 45 am)
Final Manufacturing PMI (Nov. 1, 9: 45 am)
ISM Manufacturing PMI (Nov. 1, (am)

That final release is particularly important. ISM Manufacturing PMI has missed economist estimates for three consecutive months – and contracted for the last two.

Will Consumer Data Continue to Weaken?

Weakening consumer data has raised questions about the health of the US economy. | Source: Frederic J. BROWN / AFP

Robust consumer data helped fortify the economy against a recession for much of the year, even as the manufacturing sector continued to post disappointing numbers. However, there’sgrowing evidence that the US consumer is weakening, and Dow Jones bulls will hope to see these data releases buck against that trend.

Consumer Confidence (Oct. 29, 10 am)
ADP Non-Farm Employment Change (Oct. 30, 8: 15 am)
Personal Spending (Oct. 31, 8: 30 am)
Personal Income (Oct. 31, 8: 30 am)
Unemployment Claims (Oct. 31, 8: 30 am)
Average Hourly Earnings (Nov. 1, 8: 30 am)
BLS Non-Farm Employment Change (Nov. 1, 8: 30 am)
Unemployment Rate (Nov. 1, 8: 30 am)

Additionally, the following data will provide more insight into the state of the construction sector, as analysts continue towatch for signs of a housing market crash.

S & P / CS Composite – (HIP) Oct. 29, 9 am)
Pending Home Sales (Oct. 29, 10 am)
Construction Spending (Nov. 1, 10 am)

Chinese Data Will Show the Success (or Failure) of Trump’s Tariffs

While the trade war has begun to impact the US economy, it’s alsointensified China’s slowdown. Weakness in the mainland economy could encourage China to be more proactive about pursuing a comprehensive trade deal, so investors will monitor these Chinese data releases alongside the ever-shifting rhetoric out of Washington and Beijing.

Manufacturing PMI (Oct. 30, 9 pm)
Non-Manufacturing PMI (Oct. 30, 9 pm)
Caixin Manufacturing PMI (Oct. 31, 9: (pm)

Fed Policy Statement & Jerome Powell’s Remarks Loom

Nearly as important as these data releases iswhat the Federal Reserve believes they indicateabout the health of the US economy.

On Wednesday (Oct. 30, the FOMC will convene its second-to-last policy meeting of the year The market has already priced in a third straight interest rate cut, but the official FOMC statement, followed closely by Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference, could trigger substantial volatility on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 31).

Investors will scrutinize those remarks for clues about whether the Fed intends to commit to a deliberate easing cycle (bullish for the Dow), pivot toward a neutral stance (bearish), or continue to keep the market guessing about its future policy actions (the most likely scenario).

Click here for a live Dow Jones Industrial Average chart.

This article was edited by Sam Bourgi.