Pre-Market Report – Wednesday 2 October: US market eases on Middle East tensions

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 173.18 points, or 0.41%, to 42,156.97. The S&P 500 pulled back 0.93% to 5,708.75, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 1.53% to finish at 17,910.36.

More than 3 out of every 5 S&P 500 stocks were lower in the session, highlighting the broad troubles for the market. The energy sector was up 2% on the Iranian attack.

Trading wasn't particularly active, with NYSE Composite volume running more than 61% of the past 30 days’ average, and Nasdaq Composite volume standing at about 77% of the past 30 days.
 
The JOLTS report showed that new positions rose to just over 8m, an increase of 329,000 from July and better than the Dow Jones estimate of 7.7m.

ASX SPI Futures up 2 points.

COMMODITIES

• Oil prices rise 3% after Iran launches missiles at Israel.
• Gold jumps over 1% on safe haven demand after Iran's attack on Israel.
• OPEC+ unlikely to change output policy at Oct. 2 panel meeting.
• Gold rally cripples physical demand in key markets.
• Libya preparing to restart oil output as central bank crisis eases.

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