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Market Jitters Return as Cooler CPI Surprises Wall Street

A softer‑than‑expected U.S. Consumer Price Index reading sent a ripple through financial markets today, creating an unusual dynamic: good news on inflation, but renewed pressure on major stock indexes. A Cooling CPI, but a Nervous Market The latest CPI report showed inflation easing more than economists anticipated. Under normal circumstances, that would be a welcome sign—suggesting the Federal Reserve may have more room to consider rate cuts later in the year. But markets don’t always behave logically in the moment. Today, the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq all slipped as investors reassessed what the data means for corporate earnings, interest‑rate expectations, and the broader economic outlook. Why Stocks Reacted This Way Several factors contributed to the pullback: Profit‑taking after recent market highs Concerns that cooling inflation reflects slowing demand Uncertainty about the Fed’s next move , even with softer price pressures Sector rotation ...
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Wall Street Futures Edge Higher as Rate-Cut Hopes Lift Sentiment; UnitedHealth Soars on Buffett Boost

 

U.S. stock futures pointed to a mixed but generally upbeat open on Friday, buoyed by growing expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in September.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose about 0.63%, while S&P 500 futures inched up 0.06%. Nasdaq 100 futures slipped 0.19% as weakness in tech tempered broader gains.

Healthcare stocks led the premarket rally, with UnitedHealth Group surging more than 12% after Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a significant new stake in the insurer. Other health insurers, including Elevance, Centene, and Molina, also advanced over 4% each.

Investors are betting on a 25-basis-point rate cut next month, encouraged by signs of labor market softness and muted inflationary impact from recent tariffs. The Fed last lowered rates in December, and analysts say the latest data strengthens the case for renewed monetary easing.

Market attention now turns to July retail sales and the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment report, both due later today, for further clues on the economy’s trajectory.

Meanwhile, chip equipment maker Applied Materials tumbled nearly 15% after issuing a weak outlook on sluggish China demand, dragging peers KLA and Lam Research lower.

Crude oil prices hovered near $65 a barrel ahead of a high-profile meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which markets hope could yield progress on the Ukraine conflict.

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