Equities Mixed Intraday as Data Delays Further Diminish Fed Rate Cut Bets

02:29 PM EST, 11/14/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes were mixed intraday as the odds of a Federal Reserve rate cut continued to diminish amid uncertainty around the release of key economic data.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.6% at 47,166.6 after midday Friday, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.2% to 22,918.3. The S&P 500 was little changed at 6,739.4. Among sectors, materials saw the biggest drop, while energy paced the gainers.

As the US federal government reopened following a record-long shutdown, the focus shifted to a potential resumption of economic data releases. October's producer inflation and retail sales reports, originally scheduled for a Friday release, were delayed, adding to a backlog of pending data releases.

The probability that the central bank's Federal Open Market Committee will cut interest rates by 25 basis points next month fell to nearly 44% Friday from 50% Thursday and 94% a month ago, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid said Friday that inflation remains too hot, cautioning that additional interest rate cuts may stoke price pressures.

"My view is that with inflation still too high, monetary policy should lean against demand growth to allow the space for supply to expand and relieve price pressures in the economy," Schmid said in prepared remarks for delivery in Colorado.

On Wednesday, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic said the Fed should keep its monetary policy steady until there's "clear evidence" that inflation is approaching the central bank's 2% goal.

US Treasury yields were higher intraday Friday, with the 10-year rate up 3.1 basis points at 4.14% and the two-year rate rising 1.7 basis points to 3.61%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil jumped 2.4% to $60.12 a barrel. "Oil prices climbed, boosted by supply fears after the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk halted oil exports following a Ukrainian drone attack that hit an oil depot in the major Russian energy hub," D.A. Davidson said in a note to clients.

Switzerland has reached a trade deal with the Trump administration under which US tariffs will be lowered to 15%, the Swiss government said in a post on social media site X. The US previously reportedly announced a 39% tariff rate for Switzerland.

Separately, the White House said Friday that Swiss and Liechtenstein companies will invest at least $200 billion in the US as part of the latest trade deal, with at least $67 billion occurring in 2026.

In company news, Walmart (WMT) said Doug McMillon will retire as chief executive at the end of January, with the head of the retail giant's US operations and long-time company executive, John Furner, set to replace him. Walmart (WMT) shares were down 0.6% intraday.

StubHub (STUB) shares plunged 25%. The ticketing marketplace for live events late Thursday posted a third-quarter loss and didn't provide guidance for the current quarter.

Merck (MRK) said Friday it agreed to acquire immunotherapy developer Cidara Therapeutics (CDTX) in a deal worth about $9.2 billion as it aims to expand its respiratory portfolio. Cidara shares soared nearly 106% intraday, while Merck (MRK) rose 1.8%, making it the top gainer on the Dow.

Gold dropped 2.3% at $4,098.70 per troy ounce, while silver lost 4.3% to $50.87 per ounce.

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