The S&P 500 jumped to a fresh record on Wednesday after a reading on wholesale prices unexpectedly declined, a welcome development for investors clamoring for a U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut next week to boost the economy.
The Dow Jones Industrials plummeted 220.42 points to 45,490.92
The broader index gained 19.44 points to 6,532.05.
The NASDAQ index barely cleared breakeven, moving higher only 6.57 points to 21,812.06.
Oracle and artificial intelligence-linked stocks notching the biggest gains. There were more losers in the S&P 500 than winners.
Market sentiment was given a boost following the latest producer price index reading, which showed that wholesale prices fell 0.1% in August.
Economists polled by Dow Jones had estimated a 0.3% gain. Core PPI, which excludes food and energy prices, likewise declined 0.1%, while the Dow Jones forecast called for 0.3%.
The report serves as a positive sign regarding the state of inflation in the U.S. economy heading into Thursday’s more closely watched consumer price index reading.
Economists expect the CPI report to show monthly increases of 0.3%, according to Dow Jones. This includes the headline all-items index as well as the core reading that excludes volatile food and energy prices.
If this materializes, the annual headline CPI rate would be pushed up to 2.9%, though the core reading is expected to stay unchanged at 3.1%.
Prices for 10-year Treasury eked up, lowering yields to 4.04% from Tuesday’s 4.08%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gained $1.16 to $63.79 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices sagged $1.50 to $3,680.70 U.S. an ounce.
