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Stocks increase in volatile trade after US inflation as yields climb

A gauge of global stocks increased in choppy trading on Tuesday after data showed U.S. inflation stayed sticky in February, showing the Federal Reserve might keep interest rates higher than is presently expected.

The consumer rate index (CPI) rose 0.4% last month amidst higher costs for fuel and shelter, the Labor Department's. Bureau of Labor Stats (BLS) said on Tuesday, matching the. estimate of financial experts polled , after climbing 0.3% in. January.

In the 12 months through February, the CPI increased by. 3.2%, just above the 3.1% estimate, after advancing 3.1% through. January.

Some parts of the CPI report were hot while others were. not. While energy and transportation services were hot, food,. brand-new cars, and healthcare services were not, stated Brian. Jacobsen, primary financial expert at Annex Wealth Management in. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Powell's super-core inflation slowed down from the. super-hot January reading, so that's assuring ... The Fed. wasn't planning on cutting next week anyways, so this report. doesn't alter the conversation they'll have around the table.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased. 201.36 points, or 0.52%, to 38,971.02, the S&P 500 acquired. 42.75 points, or 0.84%, to 5,160.69, and the Nasdaq Composite. gotten 177.11 points, or 1.11%, to 16,196.39, as stocks. alternated between gains and losses early in the session.

U.S. Treasury yields were higher after the data showed the. yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes was up 3.5. basis points at 4.139%. The 2-year note yield, which. usually moves in step with rate of interest expectations, rose. 4.8 basis indicate 4.5821%.

Market expectations for the timing of the Fed's first rate. cut remained largely unchanged, prices in a 66.2% chance of a. cut of a minimum of 25 basis points in June, according to CME's. FedWatch Tool, below 71.7% in the previous session.

MSCI's gauge of stocks around the world rose. 4.89 points, or 0.64%, to 773.66. In Europe, the STOXX 600. index increased 0.62%, while Europe's broad FTSEurofirst 300. index rose 12.63 points, or 0.64%.

The dollar also enhanced after the data. The dollar. index was last up 0.27% at 103.07, with the euro. down 0.12% at $1.0913.

The Japanese yen deteriorated even more versus the. greenback and was last off 0.6% at 147.83 per dollar.

The yen had actually already softened versus the dollar after Bank. of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda offered a somewhat bleaker assessment. of the country's economy than he had in January, dampening hopes. When it, the main bank may desert its negative rate policy. meets this month.

Sterling compromised 0.41% to $1.276 after information showed. UK wage development cooled somewhat more than expected last month,. putting a bit more pressure on the Bank of England to cut rates. sooner rather than later on.

In commodities, U.S. crude got 0.55% to $78.36 a. barrel and Brent rose 0.43% to $82.56 per barrel, as. OPEC stood by its projection for need development this year and next. in the middle of persistent tensions in the Middle East and beyond.

(source: Reuters)