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The stock market surged higher on Wednesday after a better-than-expected inflation report for July, boosting investor sentiment as consumer prices fell for the first time in months, adding to hopes that inflation may have finally peaked.
The surprise slowdown in consumer prices gives the Fed “plenty of cover” to slow the pace of rate … [+]
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.6%, nearly 500 points, while the S&P 500 gained 2% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite 2.7%.
Stocks got a boost after consumer prices rose 8.5% in the 12 months ending in July—less than the 8.7% expected by economists and down from 9.1% in June, according to data released by the Labor Department on Wednesday.
A sharp 7.7% decline in gasoline prices helped offset increases in food and shelter costs, according to the data, while core inflation (excluding food and energy prices) rose 0.3% versus the expected 0.5%.
Investors cheered the latest data—sending stocks higher—amid optimism that inflation may have peaked, which experts say should give the Federal Reserve some additional leeway to slow the pace of aggressive monetary policy tightening later this year.
For the Federal Reserve’s next meeting in September, the majority of traders are now pricing in another 50-basis-point rate hike—rather than what would be a third 75-basis-point increase in a row, according to CME Group data.
“We finally got some good news,” though “one month doesn’t make a trend,” notes Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Independent Advisor Alliance, who adds, “if we see future months’ data showing a decrease in inflation, then it will help markets see the end of the tunnel in terms of rate hikes.”