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Investors are looking to wholesale inflation and jobless data to test bets on a 0.25% rate cut.

For most of 2024, investors have been fixated on when the Federal Reserve would start lowering interest rates—and by how much. The time has finally come—financial markets are pricing in a 100% probability of easing at the Fed’s Sept. 18 meeting—and it’s increasingly looking like it will be a quarter-point cut. The futures market, after all, has not just factored in the September cut, but 100 basis points worth of them through the end of this year and several more throughout 2025, which could leave rates at a level of about 3% to 3.25%, compared with their current range of 5.25% to 5.5%.

Stock Market Today: Dow Jones futures rose Thursday after more inflation data. Nvidia stock is approaching a key resistance level.

This time usually comes with drops in the stock market’s major indexes.

U.S. e-commerce giant Amazon.com is in South Africa for the long run, its regional marketplace head said on Thursday, after its first foray into Sub-Saharan Africa four months ago. Africa’s most advanced economy is usually seen as a good entry point for companies to expand into the continent and Amazon could be doing the same, analysts have said. Its entry comes amid a sharp rise in online shopping in South Africa after the pandemic created an opportunity for e-commerce to finally take hold, with retailers including Naspers-owned e-commerce leader Takealot.com doubling down on investments in response.

Ulta Beauty looks undervalued relative to its growth potential.

Shares of data-analytics firm Palantir Technologies have surged since being tapped to join the S&P 500 index.

This comes nearly two months after a faulty software update from cybersecurity services provider CrowdStrike affected nearly 8.5 million Windows devices, crippling operations across industries ranging from airlines and banks to healthcare. “We’re investigating an issue where users may be unable to access multiple Microsoft 365 services,” the Windows parent said in a post on X. Microsoft did not immediately respond to queries on the nature and cause of the outage and when it expects a recovery, but its Azure cloud platform said on X it was probing customer reports of a potential issue connecting Microsoft’s services from AT&T networks.

Stock futures held steady after Wall Street got another mixed update on inflation. Dow futures were up 0.2%, while S&P 500 futures were up 0.2%. Nasdaq 100 futures were up 0.1%. All three briefly turned lower in the wake of the latest economic data before ticking back up.

(Bloomberg) — As U.S. Bancorp holds its first Investor Day in five years on Thursday, investors will be listening for clues about how one of the biggest US lenders can turn its lackluster stock around.Most Read from BloombergHow Americans Voted Their Way Into a Housing CrisisFor Tenants, AI-Powered Screening Can Be a New Barrier to HousingAfter a Record Hot Summer, Pressure Grows for A/C MandatesChicago Halts Hiring as Deficit Tops $1 Billion Through 2025NYC Transit Capital Upgrades Face $27 Bi

(Bloomberg) — Donald Trump’s plans to impose sweeping tariffs on foreign-produced goods are likely to reignite the risk of high inflation and low US economic growth, posing a threat to stocks, according to a Lazard strategist.Most Read from BloombergHow Americans Voted Their Way Into a Housing CrisisFor Tenants, AI-Powered Screening Can Be a New Barrier to HousingAfter a Record Hot Summer, Pressure Grows for A/C MandatesChicago Halts Hiring as Deficit Tops $1 Billion Through 2025NYC Transit Cap

Selling this spread would generate roughly $110 in premium which would be a 28% return in five weeks.

Nvidia and the Nasdaq led a big upside market reversal Wednesday. AppLovin led stocks in buy areas. Here’s what to do now.

Apple’s main product event didn’t boost the stock much as investors assessed whether new AI features will drive the next iPhone upgrade cycle. But that’s in line with its previous launches, one analyst explained.

U.S. stock futures were headed for small gains at the market open on Thursday, looking to build on a positive reaction to the previous day’s inflation data. The Federal Reserve now looks fully teed up for a quarter-point cut to interest rates at its monetary-policy meeting next week. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up 82 points, or 0.2%.

For over a year, skeptics have been obsessing over an artificial intelligence (AI) stock that they don’t believe qualifies to be called one.

The latest investor updates on stocks that are trending on Thursday.

Warren Buffett remains one of the most famous investors. But his long-term performance isn’t keeping up with his reputation.

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