U.S. stocks edged lower as investors navigated a mix of rising oil prices, corporate earnings signals, and shifting expectations around Federal Reserve policy. The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all turned down after early gains, reflecting a market grappling with geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns. Indexes Pull Back All three major indexes slipped roughly between 0.3% and 0.6%, giving back some of the previous session’s momentum. The downturn followed renewed volatility in energy markets and cautious sentiment around consumer spending. Oil Prices Add Fresh Pressure Crude prices extended their sharp rally, driven by heightened worries over a potential U.S.–Iran conflict. Brent crude climbed above $71 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate hovered near $66 — its biggest daily jump since October. Rising energy costs revived inflation concerns and weighed on equities. Walmart Earnings in Focus Walmart posted stronger‑than‑expected results, but its cautious pro...
Investors are closely monitoring the stock market today as S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures show upward momentum following a surprising inflation report. Here are the key highlights:
CPI Surprise: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for February revealed a 3.2% year-over-year increase in consumer prices, indicating elevated inflation. This data is crucial for the Federal Reserve’s upcoming interest rate decision.
Boeing Issues Impact Southwest: Southwest Airlines (LUV) announced capacity cuts due to ongoing problems with Boeing’s (BA) 737 Max planes. Investors are closely watching how this development affects the airline industry.
Oracle’s Strong Earnings: Tech giant Oracle (ORCL) reported better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter earnings. Additionally, Oracle teased an upcoming announcement with chipmaker NVIDIA (NVDA), driving its stock price higher.
Market Expectations: The CPI release influences market expectations regarding the timing of a potential Federal Reserve interest-rate cut. The “core” CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, rose by 0.4% in February and 3.1% year-on-year, surpassing estimates.
Bitcoin Continues Rally: Bitcoin (BTC-USD) reached a record high of $72,120, driven by surging inflows into crypto assets. Some predict bitcoin could reach as high as $350,000 this year.
Corporate Developments: Oracle’s cloud computing progress and collaboration with NVIDIA are boosting investor confidence.
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