Morning Juice – US Session Prep

Good Morning Traders.
It is Thursday the 4th of April, here is what to look out for today.

Sentiment
US stocks were expected to rise slightly as traders watched employment statistics for any cues regarding the direction of monetary policy. After hitting record highs last week, the market has been unable to find a clear path due to strong economic data that both support corporate profits and increase the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will postpone its shift to monetary easing. Further information on the underlying inflation trends and the trajectory of interest rates may be revealed by the payrolls data on Friday and the jobless claims data later today.

Docket
08:30 ET
US Initial Jobless Claims
Forecast 214K | Prior 210K | Range 222K/204K
US Continued Claims
Forecast 1.811M | Prior 1.819M | Range 1.839M/1.775M

US Trade Balance
Forecast -67.6B | Prior -67.4B | Range -64B/-70B
Canadian Trade Balance
Forecast 0.68B | Prior 0.5B | Range 1.7B/0.2B

11:30 ET
The US Sells $70 Bln in 4-Week Bills at Auction

Speakers
10:00 ET
Fed’s Harker participates in a fireside chat about second chance employment. No text but there will be a Q&A.

12:15 ET
Fed’s Barkin will deliver a new speech on his economic outlook to the Home Building Association of Richmond. Both text and Q&A are expected.

12:45 ET
Fed’s Goolsbee participates in a moderated Q&A at the Multi-Chamber Economic Outlook Luncheon and Expo. Q&A expected.

14:00 ET
Fed’s Mester speaks on the economic outlook in a virtual event. No text is expected, but there will be a Q&A.
Fed’s Kashkari joins a Linkedln Live for a wide-ranging discussion around the economy, the impact of inflation and the pandemic, and private credit and regulation. No text expected, but there will be a Q&A.