U.S. equities showed a mixed performance midway through Tuesday’s session, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average declining by approximately 200 points.
The Dow slipped 0.49% to 42,203.63, while the NASDAQ surged 1.74% to 19,033.50. The S&P 500 also advanced, rising 0.86% to 5,894.52.
Sector Performance
Information technology stocks led the market, climbing 2.3% on the day.
Conversely, the health care sector lagged, falling 2.5% during Tuesday’s session.
Headline Highlights
U.S. consumer prices increased at a slower-than-anticipated pace in April, suggesting a cooling inflationary trend. Newly imposed tariffs by President Donald Trump have yet to exert a significant or immediate effect on the cost of living.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.3% year-over-year, slightly below economists’ projections of 2.4% and down from the previous reading. On a monthly basis, CPI increased by 0.2%, rebounding from a 0.1% decline but still falling short of the 0.3% forecast.
Commodities Update
In commodities trading, crude oil prices rose 2.9% to settle at $63.75 per barrel. Gold also gained 0.8%, reaching $3,253.80.
Silver prices advanced 1.6% to $33.130, while copper climbed 2.1% to $4.7180.
European Markets
European equities were mostly higher. The pan-European STOXX 600 index edged up 0.12%, while Spain’s IBEX 35 gained 0.83%. Germany’s DAX 40 rose 0.31%, and France’s CAC 40 added 0.30%. However, the UK’s FTSE 100 inched down by 0.02%.
Asia-Pacific Markets
Markets across the Asia-Pacific region closed predominantly higher on Tuesday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.43%, China’s Shanghai Composite Index added 0.17%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 1.87% and India’s BSE Sensex declined by 1.55%.
U.S. Economic Data
The annual inflation rate in the United States eased to 2.3% in April, down from 2.4% in the previous month and below the market consensus of 2.4%.
