US Stocks Mixed in Choppy Session Driven by Data and Fed Speakers

US stock indexes went on a rollercoaster ride in their Wednesday session after weaker then expected US ISM and Manufacturing PMI figures were offset by prices paid showing a return to expansionary territory adding to inflationary concerns after the string of hot January prints. Adding to the mix was Hawkish rhetoric from voting Fed member Kashkari and a lead in from Europe where Germany joined France and Spain in releasing hotter than expected inflation figures.

The Dow Jones managed to eke out a tiny gain, while both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished down for the session, both finding support at their critical 200 Day moving average.

Bond yields moved higher across all maturities , with the closely watched 10-Year breaking through the important 4.00% level, a major resistance area that has held during 2023 to this point. This was the first time the 10-Year had breached the 4.00% level since the November 2022 weak CPI print.

Crude Oil prices also whipsawed in Wednesdays session , swinging wildly on strong China PMIs, Hot German inflation, another crude inventory builds, and US PMI figures.

Gold extended Tuesdays bounce on a weaker USD and higher inflation fears, touching on 1845 USd per ounce before finding resistance at its 23.6% Fibonacci level from the high seen in February.

In todays major economic releases, we have some more inflation figures out of the EU with the Core Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) released at 10:00 GMT. Whilst inflation figures have been the hot topic in economic releases lately, with German, French and Spanish figures already released this EU wide figure may not have any surprises in store.