US stock futures rose on Wednesday after a new inflation reading showed consumer prices rose less than expected in May. The latest snapshot of inflation comes hours before the Federal Reserve’s upcoming afternoon meeting that will provide the latest signal on the path for interest rates.
S&P 500 futures (ES=F) built on their 27th record close of the year, rising 0.7%. Nasdaq 100 futures (NQ=F) rose nearly 0.9%, also pointing to gains after a record close for the index. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) rose 0.6%.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained flat over the previous month and rose 3.3% year-on-year in May – a deceleration from April’s 0.3% month-on-month increase and 3.4% year-over-year increase in prices. Both measures exceeded economists’ expectations. On a “core” basis, which excludes the more volatile costs of food and gas, prices in May rose 0.2% from the previous month and 3.4% from a year ago – lower than April data. Both measures were also better than economists’ estimates.
Read more: How does the labor market affect inflation?
Meanwhile, the Fed’s decision is all but certain – the central bank is expected to keep interest rates at their current highest levels in 23 years. Investors will be closely watching the release of the Fed’s updated economic outlook in its “dot chart” — specifically, the number of interest rate cuts it expects for the rest of the year.
Last we heard, in March, the number was three. Policymakers will almost certainly reduce this, thanks in part to the aforementioned flatness of inflation at the beginning of this year. These forecasts, along with what Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said in his press conference, may be the latest market-moving events on an unusually busy day.
In companies, Apple (AAPL) shares calmed after rising to a record high on Tuesday. Shares were down 0.2% premarket.
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