US Stock Futures Steady as July CPI Eases Fed Rate-Hike Fears

US Stock Futures Steady as July CPI Eases Fed Rate-Hike Fears

Published August 13, 2026 · Finance-Solutes.com Markets Desk

US stock futures were little changed late Wednesday, holding steady after July’s inflation report landed in line with forecasts and took some of the urgency out of concerns that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates in the coming months. The muted overnight session followed a modestly positive day on Wall Street, where strong earnings from a handful of technology companies helped reinforce confidence in the artificial intelligence investment theme.

S&P 500 futures were roughly flat heading into Thursday’s session, while Nasdaq 100 futures slipped slightly and Dow Jones futures held near the flatline. Because index futures can move quickly overnight, traders should treat these levels as a snapshot rather than a live quote and check current pricing before acting on them.

Investor takeaway: July’s cooler-than-feared CPI print gave markets some breathing room on rate expectations, but the underlying picture is mixed — inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, energy costs are still elevated on Middle East supply risk, and Thursday’s producer price index (PPI) report will be the next test of whether the disinflation trend holds.

July CPI Cools in Line With Expectations

The July Consumer Price Index (CPI), released Wednesday, showed inflation easing modestly and matching Wall Street’s consensus forecast. Core CPI, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, also came in roughly in line with expectations, though it remains meaningfully above the Federal Reserve’s long-run 2% inflation target.

Following the release, investors trimmed the probability that the Fed will raise interest rates in the near term, based on pricing tracked by CME’s FedWatch tool. Markets are now leaning toward the central bank holding rates steady for the remainder of the year, though officials have signaled they want to see further improvement in core inflation before ruling out a hike altogether.

Part of July’s inflation relief traced back to softer energy costs earlier in the summer, tied to a brief ceasefire between the United States and Iran reached in mid-June. That truce has since broken down, and crude oil prices have climbed back toward their highest levels of the year in August — a dynamic that could complicate the inflation picture again if it persists. Thursday’s Producer Price Index (PPI) report for July is due out later in the session and should offer an additional read on whether pipeline price pressures are easing or building.

Wall Street Closes Higher on Tech Earnings Strength

US equity benchmarks finished mostly higher on Wednesday, supported by a rally in technology shares after several companies tied to the AI buildout posted upbeat quarterly results. The S&P 500 added roughly a quarter of a percent, the Nasdaq Composite outperformed with a gain of about half a percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was essentially unchanged on the day.

Two of the session’s biggest movers were Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI), a maker of AI-optimized servers, and CoreWeave (NASDAQ: CRWV), a cloud computing provider focused on AI workloads. Both stocks surged by roughly 19% after delivering stronger-than-expected quarterly results, with CoreWeave highlighting an expanding sales backlog and Super Micro issuing an upbeat outlook for the current quarter. The moves added to a broader rally across AI infrastructure names, including chipmakers, memory suppliers, and data center operators, as investors reassessed how durable AI-driven spending is likely to be.

• Rate expectations: An in-line CPI print reduces near-term pressure on the Fed to hike, but it does not eliminate the possibility — Thursday’s PPI data and the September policy meeting remain key catalysts to watch.
• AI infrastructure momentum: Strong results from CoreWeave and Super Micro suggest AI-related capital spending is still accelerating, a read-through that could extend to upcoming earnings from other major chip and cloud names.
• Energy price risk: With the US-Iran ceasefire no longer holding and Strait of Hormuz tensions unresolved, elevated oil prices remain a wildcard that could feed back into future inflation readings.
• Volatility around data releases: With CPI, PPI, and a wave of earnings all landing in the same week, index futures and individual stocks are likely to stay sensitive to headlines through the rest of August.

Market snapshot (Wednesday’s close): The S&P 500 rose about 0.3% to roughly 7,748 points, the Nasdaq Composite gained about 0.5% to roughly 26,588 points, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed. Overnight index futures pointed to a similarly quiet open on Thursday. These figures move quickly — always verify current levels before making any trading decision.

Conclusion

Wednesday’s session captured two of the biggest forces currently driving US markets: inflation data that determines the Fed’s next move, and earnings from AI-linked companies that continue to test how far the current tech rally can run. July’s CPI report gave investors a modest reason for relief on the rate front, while CoreWeave and Super Micro’s results kept the AI infrastructure trade firmly in focus. With PPI data due Thursday and oil prices still reacting to unresolved tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, the next few sessions should offer a clearer read on whether this week’s calm holds into the back half of August.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Market prices, index levels, and futures data can change rapidly and should always be verified against real-time sources before making any investment decision. For personalized guidance, Finance-Solutes.com’s free courses and expert advisors are available to help translate market news like this into a strategy that fits your own portfolio.

Source: Investing.com Vietnam — “Hợp đồng tương lai Mỹ ổn định sau dữ liệu CPI và kết quả tích cực từ công nghệ,” with figures cross-checked against CNBC, NBC News, Trading Economics, and 24/7 Wall St.

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