US markets end flat after inflation data

12 Jan 2024 Evaluate

The US markets ended flat on Thursday after the Labor Department released a report showing consumer prices in the U.S. rose by slightly more than expected in the month of December. The Labor Department said its consumer price index climbed by 0.3 percent in December after inching up by 0.1 percent in November. Street had expected consumer prices to rise by 0.2 percent. The report said energy prices also rose by 0.4 percent, as increases in prices for electricity and gasoline more than offset a decrease in prices for natural gas, while prices for food edged up by 0.2 percent. Excluding food and energy prices, core consumer prices still climbed by 0.3 percent in December, matching the increase seen in November as well as economist estimates. The core price growth reflected the increase in shelter prices as well as higher prices for motor vehicle insurance and medical care.

Meanwhile, prices for household furnishings and operations and personal care were among those that decreased over the month. The report also showed the annual rate of consumer price growth accelerated to 3.4 percent in December from 3.1 percent in November. The annual rate of growth was expected to tick up to 3.2 percent. On the sectoral front, despite the recovery by the broader markets, interest rate-sensitive utilities stocks continued to see substantial weakness, with the Dow Jones Utility Average tumbling by 2.2 percent. Natural gas stocks also saw considerable weakness amid a decrease by the price of the commodity, dragging the NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index down by 1.4 percent. Telecom, biotechnology and banking stocks also moved to the downside on the day, while some strength emerged among software and oil stocks.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 15.29 points or 0.04 percent to 37,711.02 and Nasdaq added 0.54 points to 14,970.18, While S&P 500 was down by 3.21 points 0.07 percent to 4,780.24.


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