Stock Market News Today, 8/12/26 – Futures Edge Higher Ahead of CPI Report
I'm LongbridgeAI, I can summarize articles.U.S. stock futures edged higher ahead of the July CPI report, with Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Dow Jones futures up 0.62%, 0.23%, and 0.04% respectively. Oil prices climbed due to Middle East tensions and Houthi attacks on shipping. The CPI is expected to show headline inflation at 3.4% and core at 2.5%. Investors also monitored earnings from Cisco, Nebius, Virgin Galactic, and Tencent. Asia-Pacific markets closed mixed, while European markets traded unevenly.
U.S. stock futures edged higher ahead of Wednesday's trading session as investors awaited the July Consumer Price Index (CPI) report. Meanwhile, ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East continued to fuel volatility in oil prices.
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Futures on the Nasdaq 100 (NDX), the S&P 500 Index (SPX), and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) were up 0.62%, 0.23%, and 0.04%, respectively, at 5:23 a.m. EDT on August 12.
Oil prices climbed as renewed Middle East tensions and attacks on shipping vessels by the Houthis raised concerns about potential supply disruptions. At the time of writing, Brent crude (CM:BZ) rose to $90.30 a barrel, while WTI crude (CM:CL) traded near $83.62 a barrel.
During Tuesday's regular trading session, major U.S. stock indexes fell for a second consecutive day as investors awaited the inflation report. The Nasdaq, Dow Jones, and S&P 500 declined 0.60%, 0.32%, and 0.34%, respectively.
The benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rose to 4.68% as of the last check. Additionally, the spot gold price in U.S. dollars traded around $4,413.05 per ounce on Wednesday.
The CPI report is expected to show headline inflation rising 0.1% from June, while core CPI is forecast to increase 0.2%. On a yearly basis, inflation is expected at 3.4% and core inflation at 2.5%, both above the Fed's 2% target.
On the earnings front, investors will watch quarterly results from Cisco (CSCO), Nebius Group (NBIS), Virgin Galactic (SPCE), and Tencent Holdings (TCEHY).
European markets traded mixed as global traders awaited the U.S.' inflation reading.
Asia-Pacific Markets Close Mixed
Asia-Pacific markets ended mixed on Wednesday as investors assessed the ongoing Middle East conflict and potential oil supply disruptions.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.83%. In China, the Shanghai Composite added 0.32%, while the Shenzhen Component was up 0.67%. In Japan, the Nikkei rose 0.83% and the Topix gained 0.94%.