DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE FORECAST: DJIA EXTENDS RECOVERY AS FED'S POWELL HITS FAMILIAR BEATS

• Dow Jones gains, but thinly in easy Thursday trading.
• Fed’s Powell repeat appearance delivers little of note to investors.
• Market focus pivots to Friday’s US NFP jobs report.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is up a little over a quarter of a percent on Thursday as investors take the opportunity to bid up equities and readjust their exposure after Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell’s second appearance before US government oversight committees produced little of note. Markets are now gearing up for Friday’s US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) jobs report.

Fed Chair Powell reiterated most of his statement from Wednesday’s appearance before the US Congressional House Financial Services Committee. Thursday’s Q&A with the Senate Banking Committee largely echoes information the market has already heard. Equities are paring away recent losses, and the DJIA seeks to reclaim the 39,000.00 handle.

Technology stocks are leading the market rebound, with the Technology Sector climbing over 2% on Thursday. The Real Estate and Financials Sectors are the market’s soft spots on the day, shedding around a third and a tenth of a percent, respectively.

Dow Jones News: Investors thankful for no Fed surprises turn to focus on US NFP 

The DJIA is on the higher side for Thursday but still lagging behind the Standard & Poor’s 500 and NASDAQ Composite indexes, which are up around 1.7% and 1.10%, respectively. Fed Chair Powell’s repeat appearance gave investors little new to chew on, with the Fed head sticking to the “eventually, but not right now” stance on when the Fed might begin cutting interest rates.