Stock benchmarks Thursday aim for a fourth straight gain as investors brace for the busiest day of the fourth-quarter earnings reporting season and parse a better-than-expected weekly update on employment amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Joe Biden will focus on foreign policy on Thursday, giving a speech about “reclaiming America’s role in the world,” and how it can benefit the middle class, according to the White House.
Investors warn the cheery mood in global stock and commodity markets could come to a violent end if Chinese policymakers tighten lending to prevent their economy and financial markets from overheating.
The productivity of American workers fell by 4.8% in the fourth quarter --- the biggest decline in 39 years --- as the coronavirus cast another dark shadow over the economy.
Futures for gold and silver face sharp losses Thursday, as a rise in the dollar, combined with buoyant Treaury yields helped to weigh on prices for precious metals.