FX.co ★ Rising oil prices put pressure on stock markets

US stocks fell on Wednesday as OPEC decision to cut oil supplies fueled inflation worries and investors waited for labor market data to gauge recession risk. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 fell 0.6%, while the Stoxx50 declined. US oil futures, meanwhile, rose about 11%.

The Stoxx50 fell because losses in energy and insurance stocks offset gains in real estate and travel stocks. Shares in Shell Plc also fell 4.6% after the energy giant pointed to weaker performance in the third quarter.

While higher energy prices could spur inflation, some investors speculate that they will cut demand and hurt corporate earnings, potentially prompting the Fed to slow down monetary tightening. Although such expectations have propelled stocks higher this week, many have warned that the path to a less aggressive Fed could be painful.

Investors are also hesitant to bet big on equities as they look forward to the data on jobless claims in the US, as well as the official nonfarm payrolls report. A Bloomberg poll has indicated that the US economy added 260,000 jobs last month, but a higher-than-expected figure this time could spook the markets.

Nevertheless, Fed officials have gone out of their way to emphasize that market expectations of rate cuts next year are misplaced. The bank intends to stick to a tough policy to keep inflation at 2%.

Important news due out this week:

- initial jobless claims in the US (Thursday);

- speeches of Fed members Charles Evans, Lisa Cook and Loretta Mester (Thursday);

- unemployment, wholesale inventories and non-farm payrolls in the US (Friday);

- speech of Bank of England Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden (Friday);

- speech of New York Fed President John Williams (Friday).