Wall Street slides as inflation woes dampen rate-cut bets

NEW YORK

Wall Street’s main stock indexes fell on Friday, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq leading losses on worries that hotterthan-expected inflation figures could sully hopes of an early start to the Federal Reserve’s rate-easing cycle.

Ten of the 11 major S&P 500 sectors were trading lower. Rate-sensitive technology stocks led the decline and were down 1.2%.

Most megacap growth stocks were under pressure, with Microsoft down 2.0%, while AI giant Nvidia shed 1%.

The Philadelphia Semiconductor index fell 1% and was on track to its worst weekly performance since January, ahead of the global GTC developer conference from March 18 to 21, which will be scrutinized for AI-related announcements.

Overall, Wall Street’s AI-driven rally has stalled, as chip stocks lose some steam and recent data pointed to sticky inflation. The tech-laden Nasdaq was on track to ending its second straight week lower.

All eyes are now on next week’s Federal Reserve meeting for possible clues on the timing of the central bank’s first interest-rate cut this year.

Traders have reined in bets of a June rate cut by the Fed to about 58% from 73% last week, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

“The earliest possible cut could be June, though we wouldn’t be shocked to see that delayed to later in the year if the data continues to come in hot, as recent data has,” said Carol Schleif, chief investment officer at BMO Family Office.

At 11:26 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 85.36 points, or 0.22%, at 38,820.30, the S&P 500 was down 24.55 points, or 0.48%, at 5,125.93, and the Nasdaq Composite was down 130.43 points, or 0.81%, at 15,998.10.

Friday also marked the simultaneous expiry of quarterly derivatives contracts tied to stocks, index options and futures, also known as “triple witching”, which can boost trading volumes and exacerbate bouts of volatility.

Meanwhile, production at US factories increased more than expected in February, but data for the month prior to that was revised sharply down as manufacturing remains hamstrung by higher interest rates.

The University of Michigan’s preliminary reading on the overall index of consumer sentiment came in at 76.5 this month, versus an estimated reading of 76.9.

Micron Technology rose 2.3% after brokerage Citi raised its price target on the company to $150, the highest on Wall Street for the chipmaker, according to LSEG data. Madrigal Pharmaceuticals jumped over 9%, after its oral drug won the US health regulator’s approval as the first treatment ever for a fatty liver disease known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Wall Street’s main stock indexes slipped on Monday, as investors awaited key inflation data this week that could offer clues about the US Federal Reserve’s monetary policy path following last week’s mixed jobs report.

All three major US stock indexes had ended the week lower on Friday, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq coming off record highs as high-flying chip stocks fell and a labor market report showed more new jobs than expected, while the unemployment rate rose unexpectedly.

The mixed report bolstered bets of the Fed cutting interest rates in June. Friday’s data even prompted some traders to bet on a May rate cut.

This week’s February data, including consumer prices (CPI), will provide more cues on whether inflation has eased enough for policymakers to lower borrowing costs in the coming months.

“The markets are realizing that we are a bit vulnerable to a correction catalyst,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research, adding that people are booking the profits they can before the CPI numbers.

“The core (inflation) we still see coming down, which would be a positive... the markets could actually be favorably surprised tomorrow.” Sticky inflation data for January and signs of a robust economy halted the AI-led rally last month, leading traders to push back bets on the timing of the first interest-rate cut to June from March.

Federal Reserve officials are in a media blackout ahead of their latest rate-setting meeting next week.