S&P 500 ends higher as strong inflation data cements rate-hike bets

S&P 500 ends higher as strong inflation data cements rate-hike bets

By Noel Randewich

Fri September 11, 2026  

CPI data came in today showing a strong increase in prices reinforcing the high inflation scenario. After the selloff following the PPI data earlier that showed inflation hadn’t fallen, you would think that this strong inflation report would have caused another massive selloff. Instead, the opposite happened. All three indexes shot way up right out the gate and stayed up steadily all day long. It seems that it wasn’t the fear of a rate hike that had investors rattled, it was the uncertainty of whether there would a rate hike. Today the market decided that a rate hike next week is now inevitable with the odds climbing to a staggering 90% vs 70 yesterday and 49 a week ago.  

S&P 500 ends down as Treasury yields rise and traders fret about inflation

S&P 500 ends down as Treasury yields rise and traders fret about inflation

By Noel Randewich and Niket Nishant

Thu September 10, 2026  

The war continues to escalate and the indexes continue to plummet for the fourth straight day as the usual concerns about rate hikes, inflation, and the spiraling cost of oil stubbornly dominate. Treasury yields are at years-long highs which is a pronounced negative for stocks which means the cost of borrowing to carry on business keeps getting higher. PPI today came in as expected and that combined with oil hitting $107/barrel vs $100 just yesterday has stoked fears of rate hikes this month for which the odds have catapulted to 70%. 

S&P 500 ends down as oil tops $100 per barrel

S&P 500 ends down as oil tops $100 per barrel

By Noel Randewich and Tharuniyaa Lakshmi

Wed September 9, 2026  

The war further ramping up stoking long-held fears of a broader regional conflict and pushing oil over the feared $100 mark sent all the indexes once again seriously plunging for a third straight session. The 10-year note climbed to its highest in nearly 3 years when the government offered to buy $6B worth vs an expectation of $8-$10B.  This no-risk money has made stocks that much less attractive.  

S&P 500 falls as AI worries hit software makers

S&P 500 falls as AI worries hit software makers

By Noel Randewich and Niket Nishant

Tue September 8, 2026  

The pendulum has swung back again with three major software makers declining about 5% each which has raised the old concerns about whether AI can compete with software services. That combined with the continuing attacks in the war and a growing skepticism that the Strait of Hormuz crisis is temporary sent all the indexes way down. The Nasdaq did recover somewhat after a blistering morning but the Dow and S&P were just straight down and by a substantial amount.  

Wall Street ends lower as solid jobs data fuels hawkish Fed bets

Wall Street ends lower as solid jobs data fuels hawkish Fed bets

By Stephen Culp and Niket Nishant

Fri September 4, 2026  

The jobs forecast was for 56,000 new jobs so when the report came in nearly triple that amount, it sent the markets into another panic over an overheated economy and new reasons for a rate hike. As today’s expert put it, “It’s hard not to think that an improving labor market is not good news for the economy, but the odds of a Fed rate hike increased a little bit as the economy continues to run a little on the hot side.”  

Wall Street ends sharply higher as Waller remarks ease rate hike fears

Wall Street ends sharply higher as Waller remarks ease rate hike fears

By Stephen Culp and Niket Nishant

Thu September 3, 2026  

It appears that Fed official Waller must have made his comments concerning keeping rates steady this month right around 10:30 a.m. which triggered an enormous jump in all three indexes until 11:30 a.m. at which point they remained steady for the remainder of the session. Waller’s comments really should not have moved the needle at all since all he really said was that IF the coming data shows inflation on the decline, THEN he would vote to keep rates steady, which of course has been his position and that of the entire Fed all along. It was not news and certainly no commitment to hold rates steady.

Wall St ends higher as stocks reclaim some shine

Wall St ends higher as stocks reclaim some shine

By Stephen Culp and Niket Nishant

Wed September 2, 2026

After two days of major routs there was a lot of bargain hunting going on today as investors searched for overlooked and undervalued companies which triggered a major leap in all three indexes all morning. The chip index, which has fallen nearly 25% in the last two months, has been making a comeback with AI stars Nvidia, Broadcom, Micron and Qualcomm leading the charge. But today’s expert is quite a lot more optimistic than recent sentiment has shown. “The war is continuing longer than anyone hoped and when it ends energy will cool and inflation will not be as much of an issue.”