Stocks were mostly steady on Wednesday as traders looked at possible future Federal Reserve rate cuts with concerns about rising prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average went up a little, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also saw small movements. These three major stock averages are on track for a second week of losses.
The Federal Reserve released meeting minutes from December, showing worries about inflation and signaling a possible slowdown in rate cuts. Bond yields, which show how much interest investors can earn, were up as investors watched for data on Friday’s job report.
Some individual stocks were in the news, like Palantir, which has gone up a lot recently but was down for the third day in a row. Another company, Advanced Micro Devices, saw a drop after a negative rating by HSBC.
Overall, with uncertainty about government policies and economic data, the market could be unpredictable in the coming days. Investors are watching closely for any surprises in the job report on Friday.
Vocabulary List:
- Inflation /ɪnˈfleɪ.ʃən/ (noun): The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising.
- Uncertain /ʌnˈsɜːr.tən/ (adjective): Not able to be relied on; not known or definite.
- Yield /jiːld/ (verb): To produce or provide (a return or profit).
- Steady /ˈstɛdi/ (adjective): Firmly fixed supported or balanced; not shaking or moving.
- Report /rɪˈpɔːrt/ (noun): An account given of a particular matter especially in the form of a document.
- Movements /ˈmuːv.mənt/ (noun): An act of changing physical location or position or of having this changed.
How much do you know?
What were traders looking at on Wednesday that affected the stock market?
Which of the following saw small movements on Wednesday?
What concern about rising prices did traders have on Wednesday?
What caused Palantir stock to go down for the third day in a row?
What company saw a drop after a negative rating by HSBC?
What are investors watching for closely on Friday?
The Federal Reserve released meeting minutes from December expressing no worries about inflation.
The market is expected to be highly predictable in the coming days.
Some individual stocks like Palantir have seen recent decreases in value.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average went down on Wednesday.
Investors are not concerned about government policies affecting the market.
The upcoming job report is anticipated to provide surprises for investors.
The three major stock averages are on track for a second week of .
Investors are closely watching for any in the job report on Friday.
With uncertainty about government policies and economic data, the market could be in the coming days.
Some individual stocks like Palantir, which has gone up a lot recently, were down for the third day in a row, while another company, Advanced Micro Devices, saw a drop after a by HSBC.
Overall, the market could be in the coming days.
