New York City, NY – U.S. stock futures showed little change Wednesday morning following a two-day decline of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, signaling a rocky start to the quarter. The Dow futures slipped 0.14%, while S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures also saw minor declines.

Investors on Wall Street faced a challenging session after recent inflation data raised concerns that the Federal Reserve might delay interest rate cuts. This caution led to a spike in Treasury yields, reaching levels not seen since November, and an increase in oil prices to their highest in five months.

In the previous session, major stock indexes experienced losses, with the Dow plunging nearly 1%, S&P 500 losing 0.7%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropping almost 1%. Despite these setbacks, some analysts maintained an optimistic outlook on equities, attributing the pullback to necessary consolidation after a strong start to the year.

Kristen Bitterly, global wealth head of investment solutions at Citi, highlighted the positive fundamentals supporting risk assets with declining inflation and improving earnings. She emphasized the overall constructive backdrop for equities despite market fluctuations.

Looking ahead, investors awaited key reports on the labor market and the ISM services index, along with remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and other central bank speakers. Additionally, Levi Strauss was scheduled to report earnings after the market close, adding to the week’s eventful financial calendar.

Overall, market participants kept a close eye on economic indicators and corporate earnings amidst ongoing global uncertainties and geopolitical tensions affecting the financial landscape. The fluctuating market conditions underscored the importance of staying informed and proactive in navigating the dynamic investment environment.