The S&P 500 closed nearly unchanged while the Nasdaq dipped after a volatile session on Tuesday as investors gauged inflation data and braced for quarterly earnings reports to justify stock valuations and the strength of the U.S. economy. Stocks oscillated between gains and losses throughout the day. Equities received an initial lift from a Labor Department report that showed the producer price index rose less than expected in December, although the report failed to materially affect expectations about the Federal Reserve's likely path of monetary policy this year. But early gains...
The Nikkei 225 Index rose 0.1% to around 38,510, while the broader Topix Index climbed 0.5% to 2,695 on Wednesday, snapping a four-day losing streak. The gains came after softer-than-expected US producer inflation data provided some relief for equities. However, investors remained cautious ahead of the US consumer inflation data, which could influence the Federal Reserve's monetary policy outlook. In Japan, a private survey revealed a rebound in manufacturer sentiment for January, driven mainly by improved conditions in materials industries. At the same time, speculation is growing that the...
European markets are heading for a positive open Wednesday as traders await the latest U.S. inflation data that will inform the Federal Reserve's decision-making on interest rate cuts. The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 25 points higher at 8,221, Germany's DAX up 20 points at 20,279, France's CAC up 15 points at 7,439 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 51 points at 35,218, according to data from IG. Trading updates are set to come from Experian and Hays on Wednesday, while data releases in focus are the latest U.K. inflation figures and German full-year gross domestic product. Global...