Investing.com-- U.S. stock index futures edged higher on Wednesday evening after Wall Street saw a slight rebound on cooler-than-expected inflation, however, gains were limited as investors weighed fresh tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.
S&P 500 Futures inched up 0.3% to 5,622.0 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures rose 0.4% to 19,687.0 points by 19.53 ET (23:53 GMT). Dow Jones Futures edged 0.2% higher to 41,484.0 points.
CPI inflation cools in January, keeps rate-cut bets alive
U.S. consumer price index (CPI) rose by 2.8% year-over-year in February, a slight decrease from January’s 3% increase and below the anticipated 2.9%.
The core CPI, excluding volatile food and energy prices, saw a 3.1% rise—the smallest uptick since 2021.
In regular trading on Wednesday, the S&P 500 rose 0.5%, while the NASDAQ Composite jumped 1.2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.2% lower.
All three indices had plunged in the first two sessions of this week, reaching their weakest levels in several months.
NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) jumped 6.4%on Wednesday, while Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) closed 7.6% higher.
Analysts caution that ongoing Trump tariffs may counteract the benefits of cooling inflation by introducing higher prices, which could suppress demand
At the same time, recession fears continue to loom over the U.S. economy. Consumer spending in January saw its first drop in two years, signaling potential weakness in demand.
“Tariff uncertainty and associated price increases will squeeze spending power and could prompt further weakness in consumer sentiment and spending,” ING analysts said in a note.
“But for now the economy is growing and is adding jobs and the potential for higher inflation means that we don’t expect the Fed to cut rates again before September,” they added.
Markets are currently pricing in three rate cuts this year, according to the Fedwatch tool.
Trump threatens more tariffs if EU retaliates
Trump implemented 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. on Wednesday, aiming to bolster domestic production and protect American jobs.
In response, the European Union (EU) announced plans to impose counter-tariffs on $28 billion worth of U.S. goods starting in April, targeting iconic American products.
Reacting swiftly, President Trump threatened additional penalties if the EU proceeded with its retaliatory measures.
The situation has also strained U.S. relations with other allies. Canada, for instance, imposed retaliatory tariffs on $21 billion worth of U.S. imports, including steel and aluminum products.
As tensions rise, there are growing fears of a global trade war that could lead to higher consumer prices and job losses.