FTSE 100 flat, US futures edge lower ahead of CPI

Proactive Investors –

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Annual inflation in the US edged lower to 4.9% in April, the lowest level in two years, from 5% in March.

Wall Street had forecasted inflation to remain flat last month.

Core price inflation, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy, fell to 5.5% in April from 5.6%, in line with market expectations.

FTSE 100 inched into the black, up three points to 7,766.

London’s movers

A quick glance at some of London’s movers.

Risers

Cellular- up 169% to 1.62p

Shares rocketed after winning the group announced a product placement deal with Sephora, the multinational beauty retailer.

Fallers

Polymetal- down 27% to 201p

Polymetal tanked after the Russian and Kazakhstan gold and silver miner said it plans to leave London for a primary listing on the Astana Stock Exchange.

The move has been prompted by the Ukraine war and sanctions initiated by both the West and Moscow.

Unbound- down 57% to 3.06p

Shares tanked after the retailer said trading worsened in the first quarter, leading Marwyn Investment Management to pull out of a potential funding deal.

US futures edge lower ahead of US inflation numbers

US stocks are expected to open lower ahead of inflation data due later today which will show whether predictions of an interest rate cut are off the mark.

Concerns about the US debt ceiling are also likely to keep investors nervous, with US president Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy so far unable to reach a decision.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.2% in pre-market trading, while those for the broader S&P 500 index lost 0.1% and contracts for the Nasdaq-100 were also down 0.1%.

The Dow closed Tuesday down 57 points, 0.2%, at 33,562, the Nasdaq Composite slumped 77 points, 0.6%, to 12,180 and the S&P 500 declined 19 points, 0.5%, to 4,119. The small-cap Russell 2000 index fell 3 points, 0.2%, to 1,752.

Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, noted that the crucial inflation data could influence trading on Wednesday, adding that core inflation is expected to have eased back to 5.5% in April from 5.6%, while headline inflation is seen holding steady at 5%.

“Whatever we see in the US CPI report today, it’s important to note that inflation expectations are falling,” she said.

“For today, a CPI report in line with expectations will keep focus on the debt ceiling, but a report that diverges from expectations could give an extra spin to market pricing,” she added.

A softer-than-expected reading could stoke rate cut expectations but a strong reading is hardly likely to boost bets on more rate hikes, said Ozkardeskaya.

Regarding the US debt ceiling, so far there has been no extension to September and this is a cause for worry.

“The leaders will meet again on Friday. Debt ceiling discussions will certainly extend toward the last minute, and the chances are that we see a last-minute goal to a very possible US government default. Until then uncertainty will loom and risk appetite will likely remain limited,” added Ozkardeskaya.