© Reuters. Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York
By Medha Singh
(Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes rose about 1% on Wednesday, as upbeat earnings from retailers Lowe's and Target reinforced confidence in consumer demand, while investors awaited the release of the Fed minutes for further clues on the path of interest rate cuts.
Big-box retailer Target Corp (N:) surged 19.5%, set for its biggest one-day percentage jump, after it raised its annual earnings forecast. Home improvement chain Lowe's Cos Inc (N:) climbed 9.8% as it joined bigger rival Home Depot Inc (N:) in beating profit estimates.
The reports come on the heels of solid earnings from Walmart Inc (N:) and strong retail sales data last week that allayed fears of a U.S. recession.
Together their shares helped the retail index .SPXRT> rise 2.24% and consumer discretionary sector () 1.78%, the most among the major S&P sectors.
"Investors are counting on the strength of consumer spending," said Rick Meckler, partner at Cherry Lane Investments, a family investment office in New Vernon, New Jersey.
"When they see good earnings in the sector, it gives them some confidence, particularly when there is a lot of concern about non-internet retailers."
Adding to the upbeat sentiment, Bank of America Corp (N:) Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan played down fears of a potential U.S. recession and said strong consumer spending could keep the economy growing.
At 12:13 p.m. ET, 1YMcv1> were up 313 points, or 1.21% and
The highlight of the day will be the minutes from the Federal Reserve's July meeting, when it cut interest rates for the first time in more than a decade. The details of the meeting are due to be released at 2 p.m. ET.
As U.S.-China trade tensions took a turn for the worse since the Fed's move last month and added to risks of slowing economic growth, investors will closely monitor comments from Chair Jerome Powell on Friday at the Jackson Hole Symposium for clues on what more the central bank plans to do to boost growth.
Meckler expects to see a dovish tone in Powell's speech, "not so much because the U.S. is having economic problems but its a recognition of the fact that the rest of the world is having an economic slowdown."
Yields in U.S. Treasuries bonds ticked higher on Wednesday, a day after their fall pressured Wall Street and paused a strong rebound from last week's selloff on recession fears.
All S&P sectors were higher with the defensive utilities (), consumer staples () and real estate .SPLRCR> sectors posting the smallest gains, reflecting investor appetite for risk.
Toll Brothers Inc (N:) slipped 3.8% after the luxury homebuilder posted a decline in orders, hinting at weaker demand for new homes.
Advancing issues outnumbered decliners for a 3.02-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and a 2.22-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.
The S&P index recorded 23 new 52-week highs and four new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 51 new highs and 46 new lows.
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https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/futures-gain-on-upbeat-target-lowes-earnings-fed-minutes-eyed-1960095
2019-08-21 16:47:00Z
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