Traders reduced September rate hike bets after fresh inflation data, boosting equities across most sectors.
US stocks rose in early trading Thursday after softer inflation readings prompted investors to scale back expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike in September. The S&P 500 gained ground, supported by broad sector strength, while energy lagged due to falling oil prices.
Real estate, communication services, and consumer staples led gains, with semiconductor and computer hardware stocks lifting the tech sector. Brent crude futures dropped over 2% to $86 per barrel, pressuring energy shares. Gold and bitcoin showed little movement.
Notable stocks in focus included Cisco, Dell, HP, and Alphabet, reflecting investor attention on earnings and sector trends. Markets remained stable amid strong corporate results and easing inflation concerns.