New York – Wall Street emerged from the summer doldrums Wednesday as a second straight day of tame inflation data sent stocks sharply higher and pushed the Dow Jones industrial average to its highest level in three months. Falling crude futures, which slid below $72 a barrel, also fueled the gains.
The Consumer Price Index, which measures price increases at the retail level, rose 0.4 percent in July, after an increase of 0.2 percent in June. But with food and fuel prices removed, so- called “core” CPI rose just 0.2 percent, less than the 0.3 percent economists expected.
Combined with Tuesday’s Producer Price Index, which showed a decline in core wholesale prices, the data point to a drop in inflation pressures. That would allow the Fed to stop raising rates, which would otherwise threaten economic growth and cramp corporate profits.
“The Fed could not have written these numbers any better to make their case on the economy,” said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Harris Private Bank. “This, I think, could really help the markets start to move forward.”
The Dow rose 96.86, or 0.86 percent, to 11,327.12, its best close since May 16. The Dow has gone up nearly 229 points in two days.
Broader stock indicators also advanced. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index added 9.85, or 0.77 percent, to 1,295.43, its highest level since May 11, and the Nasdaq composite index gained 34.53, or 1.63 percent, to 2,149.54 for its best close since July 6.
Bonds gained on the inflation news, with the yield on the 10-year note falling to 4.87 percent from 4.93 percent Tuesday.
The dollar lost ground against other major currencies, while gold prices rose.
Crude-oil futures slipped for the second straight session as tensions in the Middle East continued to cool. A barrel of light crude settled at $71.89, down $1.16, on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
