NEW YORK (Reuters) – Weak commodities and a firmer dollar pressured U.S. stocks on Thursday as investors shunned big bets before a jobs report that could determine the next move from the Fed.
The dollar reversed a long downtrend, slamming oil and gold markets, which in turn took a toll on energy and mining stocks. Newmont Mining Corp (NEM.N) and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX.N) both fell more than 2 percent.
Investors said better-than-expected weekly jobless claims limited declines, but the spotlight was on Friday's larger non-farm payrolls report.
Friday's report is expected to show payrolls were unchanged in September, but the release has bigger implications for a market hoping that weak data will spur the Federal Reserve to take further steps to boost the economy.
"This one, unfortunately, gets into the realm of economic psychology," said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial in Newark, New Jersey.
"I think the market would appreciate (a number) that's a little better, but that still allows the Fed to come in."
The euro's recent rally against the dollar stalled as investors booked profits. The dollar and equities have had an inverse relationship as investors take money out of stocks for the perceived safety of the greenback.
TAKING A SHINE TO ALCOA
Alcoa Inc (AA.N) kicked off the unofficial start to earnings season after the closing bell. The largest U.S. aluminum producer reported a lower third-quarter profit, but said global markets were strengthening. Its shares rose 3.2 percent to $12.59 in extended trade.
But some lackluster earnings reports weighed on the market during the regular session after PepsiCo Inc (PEP.N) trimmed the top end of its earnings forecast, while Marriott International Inc's (MAR.N) results failed to beat high expectations. Pepsi was down 3 percent at $66.10 and Marriott slid 5.8 percent to $35.67.
The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) dipped 19.07 points, or 0.17 percent, to 10,948.58. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) eased 1.91 points, or 0.16 percent, to 1,158.06. But the Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) added 3.01 points, or 0.13 percent, to 2,383.67.
Last month, the Fed hinted at the possibility that it might pump more cash into the U.S. economy, probably through buying bonds, in an additional round of quantitative easing to bolster the anemic recovery after the worst recession since the 1930s.
Growing conviction of further fuel from the Fed in part helped the S&P; 500 rally 8.8 percent in September.
While the overall payrolls number is not expected to change, economists polled by Reuters forecast that private-sector payrolls added 75,000 jobs in September. The unemployment rate is expected to tick up to 9.7 percent from 9.6 percent in August.
BETTING ON TEEN SPIRIT
The materials sector was among the biggest drags on the S&P; 500 as the price of gold retreated from a new record high and oil fell nearly 2 percent, or $1.56, to settle at $81.67 a barrel. The S&P;'s resource sector index (.GSPM) lost 0.9 percent, while Newmont Mining was down 2.6 percent at $63.03 and Freeport-McMoRan declined 2.4 percent to $91.40.
On the upside, Abercrombie & Fitch Co (ANF.N) jumped 8.9 percent to $42.03 and American Eagle Outfitters Inc (AEO.N) climbed 8.1 percent to $16.23 as teen apparel retailers led the pack with generally stronger-than-expected U.S. same-store sales in September.
About 7.11 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq, below last year's estimated daily average of 9.65 billion.
Declining stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a ratio of 8-to-7, while on the Nasdaq, about five stocks fell for every four that rose.
(Reporting by Leah Schnurr)
