U.S. stocks to open lower as inflation heats up
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HPQ Trade 39.70 0.00 § LEND Trade 9.43 0.00 § MSFT Trade 27.28 0.00§ Quotes delayed at least 15 minutes U.S. stocks were set for a lower open Friday, as investors digested stronger-than-expected consumer price inflation, which dimmed hopes that the Federal Reserve can cut interest rates to boost a slowing economy.
However, stock futures pared earlier losses on relief that core consumer prices - which exclude volatile food and energy prices -- rose in line with expectations.
The expiration of key futures and option contracts is expected to ratchet up volatility for the session.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average $INDU were down 22 points while those for the S&P 500 index $SPX fell 0.6 points to 1,402.
Nasdaq 100 futures dropped one point to 1,769.50.
Among blue chips, Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) rose before the open after its board authorized an additional $8 billion in its share buyback plan.
And Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) may receive some interest after news that it has won a partial victory in its ongoing patent dispute with Alcatel-Lucent (ALU).
Inflation keeps Fed under pressure
Pre-market indications fell following news that the consumer price index rose a steeper than expected 0.4% in February, while the core CPI rose 0.2%, as expected.
The data keeps the Fed, which meets next week to make a decision on interest rates, under pressure. Weakening economic data and troubles in the subprime mortgage market might eventually require the central bank to loosen monetary policy to inject liquidity into the system.
But persistent inflation pressures might convince some at the Fed that it should keep rates at current levels for longer.
Friday brought another reminder of the meltdown in the subprime mortgage market. Accredited Home Lending (LEND), which has lost about 75% of its value since the beginning of the year, said it's selling virtually all of its $2.7 billion loan portfolio at a substantial discount in order to meet margin calls.
On Thursday, stocks closed with gains, despite figures showing rising wholesale inflation and waning economic growth. The Dow industrials finished 26 points higher, the Nasdaq Composite rose 7 points and the S&P 500 rose 5 points.
Some speculated that investors may have bought stocks ahead of Friday's quadruple witching -- in which contracts for stock index futures, stock index options, stock options and single-stock futures all expire.
Other markets
Treasury bonds fell following the CPI. The benchmark 10-year Treasury bond was down 5/32 at 100 17/32, sending its yield up to $4.557%.
Gold futures rose $5.10 to $652.20 an ounce, and crude oil futures added 15 cents to $57.70 a barrel.
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