Mixed Close for S&P 500, Nasdaq After Hot US CPI and Powell’s Notice

(%)
MARKETS TREND

Today US stocks closed mixed, with Nasdaq up, while S&P is down, after an increase in January CPI inflation and Jerome Powell’s acknowledgement.

Jerome Powell acknowledged the sticky inflation
Jerome Powell acknowledged the sticky inflation

BrokerReviewRegulatorsMin DepositWebsite
🥇Read ReviewFCA, CySEC, ASIC, MAS, FSA, EFSA, DFSA, CFTCUSD 100Visit Broker
🥈Read ReviewFSCA, FSC, ASIC, CySEC, DFSAUSD 5Visit Broker
🥉Read ReviewCySEC, MISA, FSCAUSD 25Visit Broker
4Read ReviewASIC, BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, SCBUSD 200Visit Broker
5Read ReviewASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCBUSD 100Visit Broker
6Read ReviewFCA, FSCA, FSC, CMAUSD 200Visit Broker
7Read ReviewBVI FSCUSD 1Visit Broker
8Read ReviewCBCS, CySEC, FCA, FSA, FSC, FSCA, CMAUSD 10Visit Broker
9Read ReviewASIC, CySEC, FSCA, CMAUSD 100Visit Broker
10Read ReviewIFSC, FSCA, ASIC, CySECUSD 1Visit Broker

The broader US stock market closed on a weaker note, with most major indices declining despite a small gain in the NASDAQ. The Russell 2000 saw the steepest drop, reflecting a cautious, risk-off sentiment among investors. In the tech sector, performance was mixed. Meta and Apple managed to post gains, standing out as exceptions, while Nvidia, Amazon, and Alphabet saw declines. The pullback in these stocks suggests that investors are re-evaluating valuations after their recent strong rallies.

S&P 500 Chart Daily – The Uptrend Has Slowed Since December Chart US500m, D1, 2025.02.12 22:32 UTC, Exness Technologies Ltd, MetaTrader 5, Real

US Market Closing Summary

Major Indices Performance

  • Dow Jones: Fell 225.03 points (-0.50%), closing at 44,368.62.
  • S&P 500: Declined 16.56 points (-0.27%), ending at 6,051.94.
  • NASDAQ: Slight gain of 6.09 points (+0.03%), closing at 19,649.95.
  • Russell 2000: The worst performer, dropping 19.81 points (-0.87%) to 2,255.88.

Tech Sector Highlights

  • Meta: Extended its winning streak to 18 consecutive days, gaining $5.50 (+0.76%).
  • Nvidia: Declined -1.25%, cooling off from recent highs.
  • Amazon: Fell -1.65%, underperforming among big tech names.
  • Microsoft: Closed down -0.58%, in line with broader weakness.
  • Alphabet (Google): Dropped -0.92%, reflecting overall tech softness.
  • Apple: Bucked the trend, rising +1.83%, showing resilience.
  • Tesla: Led gains, climbing +2.44%, supported by renewed investor confidence.

Meanwhile, today was the second day of Powell’s testimony at the Senate which came after the US inflation report. January’s U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) exceeded expectations, marking the fourth consecutive year of a stronger-than-anticipated inflation reading for the month. This surprise increase adds complexity to the Federal Reserve’s efforts to bring inflation down to its 2% target and has prompted markets to scale back expectations for interest rate cuts this year.

Jerome Powell’s remarks reinforce the Fed’s cautious stance on monetary policy. While inflation is approaching target levels, policymakers are not yet ready to ease restrictions, preferring to wait and assess the full impact of their measures. The strong underlying economy provides the Fed with flexibility, but uncertainty remains regarding the timing and extent of future policy adjustments. Markets will likely remain sensitive to upcoming economic data as investors gauge the Fed’s next moves.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Key Comments

  • Inflation Progress: Today’s inflation data indicates the Fed is close to its target, but not there yet.
  • Monetary Policy Stance: The Fed intends to keep policy restrictive for now.
  • Cautious Approach: Officials will wait and assess the impact of current policies before deciding on the next steps.
  • Policy Uncertainty: There remains uncertainty regarding future policy adjustments.
  • Economic Strength: The underlying U.S. economy remains strong, providing room for policy flexibility.

S&P 500 Live Chart

S&P500
Check out our free forex signals
Follow the top economic events on FX Leaders economic calendar
Trade better, discover more Forex Trading Strategies
ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Skerdian Meta
Lead Analyst
Skerdian Meta Lead Analyst. Skerdian is a professional Forex trader and a market analyst. He has been actively engaged in market analysis for the past 11 years. Before becoming our head analyst, Skerdian served as a trader and market analyst in Saxo Bank's local branch, Aksioner. Skerdian specialized in experimenting with developing models and hands-on trading. Skerdian has a masters degree in finance and investment.
Related Articles
Comments
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments