Investing.com — U.S. stocks rallied Tuesday as further signs that inflation is cooling strengthened the case for a Federal Reserve rate cut as soon as next month, sending Treasury yields tumbling.
At 15:36 ET (18:36 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 389 points, or 1%, the S&P 500 gained 1.5%, and NASDAQ Composite climbed 2.3%.
PPI inflation cooled in July as CPI looms
Data released earlier Tuesday showed the producer price index rose 0.1% on a monthly basis in July, compared with the 0.2% rise expected by economists. Annually, it rose to 2.2%, versus an estimate of a 2.3%.
Excluding volatile food and energy components, “core” PPI was flat on the month, compared to an expected 0.2% rise. Annually, the narrower measure of PPI stood at 2.4%, versus an estimated 2.7% advance.
“A cooler-than-expected PPI report offers welcome support for those in favor of a near-term rate reduction,” Stifel said in a recent note just a day head of fresh inflation data with the release of the consumer price index.
Treasury yields fell sharply as investor bets on a September rate firmed up, with the odds of 25 basis point cut at 45%, while a larger cut is priced at 55%, according to Investing.com’s Fed Rate Monitor Tool.
Home Depot rises despite guidance cut, Starbucks jumps after ousting CEO, Dell rides Barclays upgrade higher
Home Depot (NYSE:HD) stock rose over 1% cutting pre-market losses after the retailer lowered its full-year outlook, citing weaker consumer demand for home improvement projects.
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (NYSE:CMG) fell 8% after Chipotle chief executive Brian Niccol was tapped by Starbucks to become its new CEO starting Sept. 9, replacing Laxman Narasimhan, who was laid off with immediate effect.
Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), which has been the target of activist investors pushing for change at the coffee chain, jumped 23% on the day. Some on Wall Street remain unconvinced, noting that Chipotle had never embraced menu innovation or marketing at any kind.
“The challenge [for Starbucks] is to connect with a new customer,” Wedbush said in a note. “Aside from the power to change the direction of macro headwinds, we view the shareholder euphoria (as expressed in the share price this morning) as premature.”
Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) jumped 5% after Barclays upgraded the stock to equalweight from underweight, following the tech company’s recent pullback.
Alphabet Inc Class A (NASDAQ:GOOGL) rose 1% after unveiling its AI-based Pixel smartphone.
