U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday after a new reading on inflation showed that consumer prices rose less than expected in May. The latest snapshot of inflation, the highly-anticipated Federal Reserve meeting later in the afternoon, will provide the latest signal on the path of interest rates.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose more than 0.8% for its 27th record close of the year. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) rose nearly 0.9%, completing a record high from the previous day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) also rose about 0.9%.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was flat from the previous month and rose 3.3% from a year earlier in May – a decline from a 0.3% month-on-month increase in April and a 3.4% annual gain in prices. Both measures beat economists’ expectations. On a “core” basis, which strips out the more volatile costs of food and gas, prices in May were 0.2% from the previous month and 3.4% from last year – cooler than April’s data. Both measures came in better than economic estimates.
This changed market expectations for central bank rate cuts this year. Following the data release, markets priced in a 69% chance the Federal Reserve will begin cutting rates at its September meeting. According to data from the CME FedWatch tool. That’s up from a 53% chance the previous day.
Subsequently, interest rate sensitive parts of the market rose. Real estate ( XLRE ) led eleven sectors, rising more than 2%.
read more: How does the labor market affect inflation?
But that could all change later this afternoon. The Fed decision is all but certain – the Fed is expected to keep rates at their current 23-year high. Investors will be paying close attention to the Fed’s release of updated economic forecasts on its “dot plot” — specifically, how many rate cuts it plans for the rest of the year.
Last we heard, in March, it was three. Thanks in part to the aforementioned stickiness of inflation, policymakers are almost certain to start this year. Those forecasts, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said at his press conference, could be the last market-moving events of an unusually busy day.
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