US open: Stocks higher as CPI steadies, Trump extends China tariff pause

(Sharecast News) - Major indices were in the green at the opening bell on Tuesday as traders digested last month's consumer price index.

As of 1455 BST, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.52% at 44,204.14, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.39% to 6,398.21 and the Nasdaq Composite came out of the gate 0.38% firmer at 21,466.13.

The Dow opened 229.05 points higher on Tuesday, more than reversing losses recorded in the previous session.

Tuesday's primary focus was news that US consumer prices edged higher in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Headline CPI rose by 0.2% month-on-month, down from June's 0.3% increase, while on an annual basis, inflation held steady at 2.7%, suggesting that while underlying pressures remained, particularly in shelter and services, the broader inflation picture may be stabilising. However, core CPI, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, climbed 0.3% in July, accelerating from June's 0.2% increase and lifting the year-on-year rate to 3.1%, up from 2.9%.

July's CPI reading also comes ahead of the FOMC's September policy meeting and amid heightened scrutiny of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after Donald Trump fired commissioner Erika McEntarfer earlier in August, claiming that she "RIGGED" jobs figures to make both him and Republicans "look bad".

Tuesday's CPI reading also comes as investors mull over recent developments on the trade front, with Donald Trump extending a 90-day pause on higher levies on Chinese goods yet again.

Elsewhere on the macro front, the National Federation of Independent Business's small business optimism index rose to 100.3 in July, up from 98.6 in June for the highest reading in five months. There was a notable improvement in overall business health, with the net percentage of owners expecting better business conditions rising to 36%, while 11% reported that inflation was the single biggest issue in operating their businesses.

Also in focus, Richmond Federal Reserve president Thomas Barkin and Kansas Fed head Jeffrey Schmid will deliver speeches later this morning, while the Federal Government's July budget statement will be released at 1900 BST.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

Dow Jones - Risers

Boeing Co. (BA) $229.53 1.58%

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) $730.18 1.52%

Unitedhealth Group Inc. (UNH) $256.09 1.47%

American Express Co. (AXP) $300.55 1.46%

Intel Corp. (INTC) $20.91 1.26%

Home Depot Inc. (HD) $391.54 1.03%

3M Co. (MMM) $156.79 0.95%

Nike Inc. (NKE) $74.72 0.95%

JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $292.16 0.90%

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) $526.00 0.81%

Dow Jones - Fallers

Salesforce.Com Inc. (CRM) $231.29 -0.60%

Amgen Inc. (AMGN) $284.29 -0.28%

Travelers Company Inc. (TRV) $263.68 -0.22%

Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) $154.98 0.00%

Dowdupont Inc. (DWDP) $0.00 0.00%

Walmart Inc. (WMT) $103.94 0.01%

Coca-Cola Co. (KO) $70.83 0.11%

Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $70.80 0.18%

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA) $11.89 0.21%

Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) $80.22 0.24%

S&P 500 - Risers

Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI) $6.49 34.37%

American Airlines Group (AAL) $12.22 5.48%

United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL) $93.96 5.18%

Delta Airlines Inc. (DAL) $56.10 4.86%

Kohls Corp. (KSS) $12.80 4.79%

Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK) $53.20 4.03%

Fortinet Inc. (FTNT) $76.97 3.22%

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (CMG) $42.93 3.15%

Macerich Co (MAC) $17.17 3.09%

Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) $29.95 3.06%

S&P 500 - Fallers

Celanese Corp. (CE) $38.06 -19.74%

Cardinal Health Inc. (CAH) $138.61 -12.08%

Albemarle Corp. (ALB) $77.06 -4.58%

McKesson Corp. (MCK) $642.72 -4.47%

Cencora Inc (COR) $281.29 -3.24%

Apartment Investment & Management Co. (AIV) $7.66 -3.16%

Amer Water Works (AWK) $143.93 -1.12%

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF) $62.76 -1.10%

O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) $102.51 -1.05%

Under Armour, Inc. (UA) $4.92 -1.01%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers

American Airlines Group (AAL) $12.22 5.48%

Microchip Technology Inc. (MCHP) $62.72 2.90%

Meta Platforms Inc. (META) $787.20 2.79%

Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) $94.26 2.75%

Illumina Inc. (ILMN) $96.51 1.83%

Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. (ULTA) $507.78 1.82%

Incyte Corp. (INCY) $80.56 1.73%

Texas Instruments Inc (TXN) $186.85 1.71%

Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR) $263.17 1.70%

Paypal Holdings Inc (PYPL) $68.18 1.64%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers

Qvc Group Inc Series A (QVCGA) $4.57 -1.40%

O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) $102.51 -1.05%

Workday, Inc. (WDAY) $212.02 -0.78%

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) $174.96 -0.65%

Hologic Inc. (HOLX) $67.55 -0.65%

Verisk Analytics Inc. (VRSK) $266.33 -0.41%

Cintas Corp. (CTAS) $222.97 -0.41%

Synopsys Inc. (SNPS) $613.85 -0.37%

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP) $180.21 -0.29%

Amgen Inc. (AMGN) $284.29 -0.28%