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Wall Street Futures Rise as Inflation Cools, Boosting Rate-Cut Hopes

US stock futures climbed Friday morning after the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed inflation rising at a slightly slower pace than expected. The data offered investors reassurance that price pressures are easing, strengthening expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut next week. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained about 0.5% S&P 500 futures rose 0.7% Nasdaq 100 futures jumped 1% The September CPI report revealed annual inflation at 3% , just below forecasts of 3.1%. On a monthly basis, prices increased 0.3% , a modest slowdown from August. This cooler-than-expected reading comes after a delay caused by the government shutdown, making it the first major economic release in weeks. With nearly all market bets pointing to a Fed rate cut, investors are increasingly optimistic about a softer monetary policy path ahead.

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Dow Jones Industrial Average Closes at Second-Straight Record High as Big Tech Kicks Off Earnings

 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed at a second-straight record high on Tuesday, as quarterly earnings from big tech companies were released and economic data showing ongoing labor market strength was digested. The Federal Reserve also kicked off its two-day meeting on Tuesday.

Microsoft, Alphabet, and AMD kicked off the earnings season for big tech with better-than-expected quarterly earnings. The trio’s earnings come just ahead of earnings from Amazon, Apple, and Meta due later this week. Collectively, the market capitalization of Alphabet, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Meta accounted for the bulk of S&P 500’s 24% gain in 2023.

In other tech news, Super Micro Computer rose more than 3% after the data center hardware maker reported second-quarter results that topped Wall Street estimates amid a boost from artificial intelligence-led demand.

General Motors’ stock rose nearly 7% after the auto giant provided investors with an upbeat outlook for 2024 and signaled more capital could be returned to shareholders.

The U.S. Labor Department’s latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, a measure of labor demand, showed job openings in December climbed to 9.03 million, above economists’ estimates of 8.75 million. The ongoing signs of labor market strength arrived on the heels of data showing consumer confidence jumped to a 2-year high. The duo of reports, signaling economic strength, pushed 2-year Treasury yields higher, as investors bet that the data will likely encourage the Fed to maintain its higher-for-longer rate regime as the central bank kicked off its two-day meeting.


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