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What is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)?

What is the Consumer Price Index(CPI)? The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the change in prices paid by consumers for a basket of goods and services. It is one of the most widely followed economic indicators, and it is used by investors to gauge inflation and make investment decisions. How is the CPI calculated? The CPI is calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS surveys households across the United States to collect data on the prices they pay for goods and services. This data is then used to create a "basket" of goods and services that represents the spending habits of the average American household. The BLS calculates the CPI by comparing the prices in the basket of goods and services in a given month to the prices in the same basket of goods and services in a base year. The base year is usually 2000. How does the CPI affect investing? The CPI is an important indicator of inflation. When the CPI rises, it means that the cost of living is incre...

Micron's Surge, AI's Real Economy Test, and Tonight's Buy-the-Dip Playbook

๐Ÿ“… June 18, 2026 · 09:17 AM EDT  |  Wall Street Daily Briefing Pre-Market Snapshot Futures signal a robust risk-on sentiment for the US open. Tech leads the charge, buoyed by strong chip demand, while Asian and European markets present a mixed but generally optimistic backdrop. Investors are positioning for potential upward momentum, with key indices indicating significant gains ahead of the bell. US equity futures are pointing to a significantly positive open, led by the technology sector. S&P 500 Futures are up +1.73% at 7553.0 , signaling strong investor confidence. NASDAQ Futures are leading the charge, soaring +2.67% to 30479.75 , driven by renewed enthusiasm in AI-related hardware, as highlighted by Micron's recent performance. Dow Futures also reflect a positive outlook, climbing +1.25% to 52162.0 , and the Russell 2000 Futures gained +2.08% to 2980.3 . In Asia, the Nikkei 225 closed up +1.65% at 71053.49 , and the KOSPI ros...

Hang Seng Plunges 2.12%: Geopolitical Jitters Erase AI Gains, Signaling a Real Economy Shift?

๐Ÿ“… June 18, 2026 · 03:36 AM EDT  |  Wall Street Daily Briefing Hong Kong Market Overview The Hang Seng Index experienced a significant downturn today, closing at 23796.35 , marking a substantial -2.12% decline. This sharp retraction appears to be driven by a confluence of risk-off sentiment and a discerning sector rotation, overshadowing pockets of tech strength, as investors recalibrate their exposure amidst evolving geopolitical and domestic economic narratives. Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng Index closed down by a notable 2.12% at 23796.35, signaling a broad-based risk aversion that swept through the market. Despite the broader market weakness, the Hang Seng Tech Index remarkably managed a +2.35% gain, highlighting a bifurcated market where AI-driven optimism in select tech names (like 2382.HK) contrasted sharply with broader financial and consumer sector woes. Trading volume for the day registered approximately HK$135 billion , ...