US Futures Mixed, Nikkei Opens Lower As Investors Digest Inflation Data ? Dollar Slides As Trump Takes Fresh Jab At Fed's Powell

BY Benzinga | ECONOMIC | 04/17/25 09:37 PM EDT

U.S. stock futures trade mixed in a choppy session on Thursday night, amid President Donald Trump’s reassurance of a trade deal with Europe and China in the afternoon, following a fresh jab at Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell for not cutting interest rates.

S&P 500 futures are up 0.36% at 5,326, Nasdaq Futures up 0.23% at 18,427, followed by Dow Futures, down 1.14% at 39,398, owing to disappointing earnings results of a few components early in the day.

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Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 is up 0.39% after recovering from early losses, as investors interpret key inflation data, which came in at 3.6%, ahead of the Bank of Japan’s 2.0% target, but below February figures at 3.7%. Pharmaceuticals, auto, and shipping stocks lead the charge as trade talks with the U.S. gain steam.

The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) pared its gains on Thursday and is now flat at 99.41, up 0.03% at the time of writing. This comes amid growing political pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, with the President calling for Fed Chair Powell’s “Termination.”

The U.S. markets are closed on Friday for Good Friday.

Photo Courtesy: Goodvibes Photo on Shutterstock.com

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In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

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