Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures hit pause in countdown to consumer inflation data

Published On Dec 10, 2024, 7:13 AM

U.S. stock futures are experiencing a pause as investors await a critical consumer inflation report, which could influence the Federal Reserve's decisions on interest rates. While futures for the Dow Jones and S&P 500 are mostly flat, the Nasdaq 100 saw minor gains. Stocks remain close to record highs, with hopes that the inflation report will indicate a 'soft landing' for the economy, possibly paving the way for a Federal Reserve rate cut in December. Notably, Oracle's shares have fallen sharply after its quarterly results missed expectations, likely impacting its market valuation significantly.

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The pause in U.S. stock futures could indicate a cautious sentiment among investors as they anticipate the inflation report. Should the report show lower-than-expected inflation, stocks could rally further, leading to positive momentum in major indexes. However, negative surprises could trigger declines. Oracle's substantial drop in stock price suggests that individual tech companies facing challenges may see continued volatility. Given the context, investors might consider leaning towards ETFs that track the broader tech or large-cap indexes if inflation data is favorable, but may wish to reduce exposure to individual tech stocks like Oracle which are currently underperforming.

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