Continued Sluggishness In Equity Markets Awaiting Janet Yellen At Jackson Hole

Investors (if that's what they're being called these days) are largely on hold in advance of Fed Chair Janet Yellen's speech at Jackson Hole tomorrow and a return to what passes for normal conditions following the Labor Day holiday.

Essentially, stocks have been treading water for the past month, since setting new all-time highs mid-July and making a double top earlier this month.

For whatever it's worth, the one bid by the Fed and its central bank allies has produced a very dull market, if that's what we're calling it these days.

Of particular note is the current odds for a rate hike in September, currently hovering around 18%. For a December rate hike, it's basically a 50-50 proposition, though neither is actually very likely considering the fragility of the global economy.

Thursday's Closing Prices:
Dow Jones Industrial Average
18,448.41, -33.07 (-0.18%)

NASDAQ Composite
5,212.20, -5.49 (-0.11%)

S&P 500
2,172.47, -2.97 (-0.14%)

NYSE Composite
10,780.23, -10.95 (-0.10%)