Market Watch: Sept. 16, 2022
Big Picture
U.S. Indexes Plummet on Higher-Than-Expected Inflation Data
U.S. and Canadian stocks extended their winning streak on Monday, rallying to a sharply higher close as investors awaited crucial inflation data Tuesday that could provide clues about the trajectory of the Fed’s tightening policy. Energy and technology shares helped the three major U.S. stock indexes touch two-week highs and notch their fourth straight session of gains. The TSX also saw its fourth consecutive winning session, hitting its highest closing level in roughly three weeks, adding 214 points. By Monday’s close the Dow added 230 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq gained 43 and 154 points, respectively.
U.S. stocks on Tuesday suffered their worst session in more than two years after higher-than-expected inflation data erased investors’ hopes that the Fed might moderate its hawkish policy to rein in inflation. The new data showed the consumer-price index rose 8.3% in August, year over year – which was down slightly from 8.5% in July. However, the core CPI, which excludes often volatile energy and food prices, increased 6.3% in August from a year earlier. That was up sharply from the 5.9% rate in both June and July—a signal that broad price pressures strengthened. By Tuesday’s close, the Dow had plummeted nearly 1300 points (roughly 3.9%), while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell 4.3% and 5.2%, respectively. Losses for the TSX were more modest, but the Canadian benchmark still ended down 1.7%, its biggest decline in three months.


