US equities including the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite achieved record highs fueled by investor optimism over potential Federal Reserve rate cuts. Consumer price data indicated inflation slowed to 0.2% month-over-month, but core inflation rose to 0.3%, suggesting mixed economic signals. The producer price index's unexpected rise of 0.9% sparked concerns about inflation, overshadowing earlier optimism. Retail sales increased by 0.5%, but consumer sentiment fell to 58.6, reflecting worries over inflation. Bond markets showed mixed reactions with treasury yields rising amid these dynamics, while corporate bonds performed well, indicating strong demand.
US equities advanced as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached record levels, driven by hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts and soft consumer price data.
July’s consumer price index eased to 0.2% month-over-month influenced by lower grocery and energy costs, despite core inflation reaching 0.3%.
A surprising increase in the producer price index by 0.9% raised concerns about underlying price pressures, particularly in the services sector, impacting rate cut optimism.
Retail sales rose 0.5% in July, driven mainly by motor vehicle sales, although consumer sentiment declined, indicating growing inflation concerns among households.
Collection
[
|
...
]