A positive opening for the New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange started the day with a significant increase, thanks to encouraging inflation data and the solid quarterly performance of the main banks. This scenario has led to a climate of optimism among investors, who have reacted positively to the opening of the markets
.
Inflation and economic performance
In December, consumer prices showed an increase of 0.4% compared to the previous month, exceeding expectations set at 0.3%. This increase helped lift annual inflation to 2.9%, compared to 2.7% in November, in line with analysts’ forecasts.
These data had a direct impact on the main stock indices, which recorded significant gains: the Dow Jones rose 579.95 points (+1.36%), the S&P 500 gained 85.71 points (+1.47%) and the Nasdaq rose by 352.69 points (+1.85%).
The growing mortgage market
Another significant aspect is the increase in mortgage applications in the United States, which has seen a significant increase after a period of decline. In the week of January 10, mortgage applications increased, showing growth both compared to the previous week and last year. This trend is particularly interesting, considering that interest rates have been at their highest levels since May.
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported a 33.3% increase in the volume of applications, with refinancing requests seeing an increase of 43.6%.
The energy and food sector under observation
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has highlighted a significant increase in the energy and food sectors, contributing to the trend in inflation. Annual inflation rose to 2.9%, while the core rate increased by 0.2% per month. This data is essential for understanding current economic dynamics and future investor expectations.
Acquisitions and business strategies
Finally, the European Commission has given the green light to the acquisition of UniCredit CNP Vita by UniCredit, a transaction that does not raise competition concerns. This move, which concerns the insurance sector, is part of the simplified merger review procedure and could have positive repercussions on the market, strengthening
UniCredit’s position in the sector.