By Lewis Krauskopf
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar rallied against the yen on Monday amid firming bets for a U.S. interest rate hike late this year, while oil prices jumped about 3 percent as speculation grew that OPEC would try to restrain output.
U.S. equity indexes receded after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at fresh record highs Friday after a strong U.S. jobs report. The MSCI All-Country World equity index (MIWD00000PUS) rose 0.3 percent, helped by stocks in Asia.
Friday's employment report showed U.S. nonfarm payrolls rose by 255,000 jobs in July, more than the Reuters forecast of 180,000. Following that sign of strength in the U.S. economy, traders are now basically split on whether the Federal Reserve will raise benchmark U.S. rates at its December meeting, according to the CME Fedwatch tool.
"The market is still digesting a blockbuster payroll number and I think a lot of things are in motion right now to assess whether the Fed raises earlier than thought,” said Doug Cote, chief market strategist at Voya Investment Management in New York. "It certainly won’t be September, but it could possibly be December."
The Dow Jones industrial average (DJI) fell 14.24 points, or 0.08 percent, to 18,529.29, the S&P 500 (SPX) lost 1.98 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,180.89 and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) dropped 7.98 points, or 0.15 percent, to 5,213.14.
Gains in energy shares (SPNY) were countered by sharp declines in the healthcare sector (SPXHC).
U.S. equities have pushed higher amid a better-than-expected corporate earnings season, and will take their cues this week from the results of several consumer companies.
"This is a natural pause for reflection by the markets. Everyone is sitting there saying 'Holy cow, what did we do?'," said Brad McMillan, chief investment officer at Commonwealth Financial Network.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index (STOXX) edged up 0.04 percent. European bank stocks (SX7P) gained, helped by an upgrade for shares of Barclays (L:BARC).
The dollar (DXY) climbed 0.2 percent against a basket of currencies, rising for a fourth straight session. Against the yen, the dollar gained 0.6 percent <JPY=>.
"Friday’s employment report was extremely strong and I think that’s hardened the conviction of investors who view the U.S. economy as strongly outperforming other countries," said Kathy Lien, managing director at BK Asset Management in New York.
Oil prices jumped amid renewed speculation that OPEC would try to restrain output, easing oversupply worries that had pressured the market to three-month lows last week.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (CLc1) settled up 2.9 percent at $43.02 per barrel, while Brent crude (LCOc1) settled up 2.5 percent at $45.39.
U.S. Treasuries debt yields were up slightly, with longer-dated maturities edging up to their highest level in more than two weeks.
Benchmark 10-year Treasury notes (US10YT=RR) fell 2/32 in price to yield 1.586 percent.
Spot gold <XAU=> edged up 0.04 percent after falling sharply on Friday.