U.S. equity futures edged lower while European stocks rose following the release of cooling inflation figures on Thursday. The lowering of inflationary pressures gives the Federal Reserve incentive to lower its interest rate hikes, with investors expecting a 25 basis point hike next month.
S&P 500 futures lost 0.3% on Friday morning while Nasdaq 100 futures fell by 0.5%. Tesla shares fell following the electric vehicle maker’s decision to further slash prices while Delta Air Lines Inc. dropped after the airline failed to meet its initial earnings forecast.
European stocks, in contrast, experienced gains that put them on track to their strongest-ever performance in the first two weeks of January on record. The Stoxx Europe 600 gained 0.4% during early trading.
According to Bank of America strategists, U.S. stocks are set to slide during the first half of 2023 before stabilizing economic conditions enable them to recover during the second half of the year.
Gold is set to exceed the $1,900-an-ounce mark, thereby securing its fourth consecutive week of gains, while oil is also poised for a weekly gain. The Bloomberg Spot Dollar Index remained little changed, while the euro fell by 0.4% to $1.0809.