U.S. stock markets experienced a slight decline as investors awaited the key inflation report, anticipated to be released later in the week.


On Tuesday, the S&P 500 index fell by 0.3%, marking its first consecutive day of losses in nearly three weeks. Similarly, both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq composite suffered a drop of 0.3%.


Oracle’s recent financial results fell short of analysts’ expectations, contributing to the overall downturn in the market. Additionally, increased Treasury yields in the bond market were noted as investors prepared for the important inflation data due to be revealed on Wednesday, which will be critical ahead of the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting regarding interest rates.


The specifics for Tuesday are as follows:


– The S&P 500 decreased by 17.94 points, or 0.3%, settling at 6,034.91.


– The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a drop of 154.10 points, also a decline of 0.3%, closing at 44,247.83.


– The Nasdaq composite lost 49.45 points, or 0.3%, finishing at 19,687.24.


– The Russell 2000 index, which tracks smaller companies, dropped 10.06 points, or 0.4%, to reach 2,382.77.


For the week, the S&P 500 has decreased by 55.36 points, representing a decline of 0.9%. The Dow has also fallen by 394.69 points, or 0.9%, while the Nasdaq recorded a decrease of 172.53 points, or 0.9%. The Russell 2000 index is down by 26.22 points, or 1.1%.


Looking at year-to-date figures, the S&P 500 has gained 1,265.08 points, an impressive 26.5%. The Dow has risen by 6,558.29 points, or 17.4%, and the Nasdaq has increased by 4,675.89 points, equating to a significant 31.1% rise. The Russell 2000 index has experienced a gain of 355.70 points, or 17.5%.


Overall, as investors look ahead to the important inflation report, market activity remains cautious, reflecting uncertainty about upcoming economic data and its potential impact on future interest rate decisions.