The New York Stock Exchange wrapped up Tuesday with a jittery finish, as traders kept a close eye on upcoming U.S. employment and inflation reports that could steer the Federal Reserve’s next moves.
Even though the Dow Jones eked out a tiny gain of 0.10 % to close at 50,188.14 points – nudging a fresh all‑time high – the broader S&P 500 slipped 0.33 % and the tech‑heavy Nasdaq fell 0.59 %.
All eyes now turn to the official January jobs numbers set for release on Wednesday, followed by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the same month on Friday. Both metrics are crucial for gauging whether the Fed will stay on its current rate path or consider easing monetary policy.
The Federal Reserve operates under a dual mandate: to push the labor market toward full employment while anchoring inflation close to a long‑run 2 % target. A hotter‑than‑expected CPI reading or a weaker jobs report could tip the balance toward a more dovish stance.
“Any data point that gives the Fed room to cut rates will be welcomed by the market, even if it falls short of expectations,” notes analyst Adam Sarhan. Lower interest rates typically lift Wall Street, as cheaper financing can boost corporate profits.
Meanwhile, retail sales for December came in softer than analysts had forecast, despite the holiday‑season boost, adding another layer of uncertainty.
On the bond side, the yield on the benchmark 10‑year U.S. Treasury slipped to 4.14 % by 21:15 GMT, down from Friday’s close of 4.20 %.
Corporate earnings remain in focus. Coca‑Cola shares dipped 1.48 % to $76.81 after the beverage giant missed its revenue outlook for the fourth quarter of 2025, posting $11.82 billion versus the $12 billion analysts had hoped for. However, earnings per share came in ahead of forecasts at 58 cents.
Hasbro surged 7.48 % to $104.00, buoyed by a robust revenue jump of 14 % year‑over‑year to $4.7 billion, driven largely by its video‑game division and a recently announced transformation plan.
Streaming music service Spotify rallied 14.73 % to $475.96 after reporting an 11 % annual rise in active users to 751 million—exceeding its own projection of 745 million.
DuPont de Nemours added to the positive earnings streak, climbing 4.90 % to $49.41 after delivering quarterly results that topped expectations and raised guidance for the coming months.
Investors are also gearing up for updates from heavyweight names such as McDonald’s, Airbnb and Moderna later this week.