Futures lower as focus shifts to inflation data

U.S. stock index futures were lower on Wednesday as investors awaited a key reading on inflation to see whether the Federal Reserve was successful in bringing down rising prices.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is expected to have risen 0.4% last month after gaining 0.1% in March, while the so-called core CPI (excluding volatile food and energy components) is expected to remain at 0.4% in April from the prior month.

The Labor Department report will be released at 0830 ET (1230 GMT). “If CPI comes in hot, coupled with a stable market, decent earnings and stable jobs, it may not look good for the Fed’s future actions,” said Sylvia Jablonski, CEO and chief investment officer at Defiance ETFs.

“The direction of rates seems to depend on economic data again, the quasi-banking crisis and liquidity crunch hasn’t yet been an active factor that changes Fed course.”

The odds favoring a rate cut anytime soon fell after a strong U.S. payrolls report on Friday, with traders now expecting the central bank to hold rates at 5-5.25% till at least July.

This report’s information was first seen on REUTERS; to read more, click this link.