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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...

Flat Futures, Fading Hype? Decoding Tonight's AI Rotation & Hidden Market Risks

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📅 May 25, 2026 · 09:08 AM EDT  |  Wall Street Daily Briefing Pre-Market Snapshot Futures are flat across the board, yet Asian and European markets closed positively, suggesting a cautious optimism might percolate into the US session despite a lack of immediate catalysts. Investors appear to be digesting recent gains and looking for fresh direction before the opening bell. S&P 500 Futures at 7491.0 (+0.00%), NASDAQ Futures at 29558.75 (+0.00%), and Dow Futures at 50662.0 (+0.00%) all signal a muted start to the US trading day. The Russell 2000 Futures also stood pat at 2872.1 (+0.00%). This flat pre-market activity follows a broadly positive overnight session across global bourses. In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 surged +2.87% to 65158.19 , while Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained +0.86% to 25606.03 . Europe also saw green, with Germany's DAX closing +1.63% higher at 25294.11 and France's CAC 40 up +1.83% at 8264.34 . This div...

Hang Seng Climbs 0.86% as Oil Tumble Spurs Asia: Is a Real Economy Rotation Underway?

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📅 May 25, 2026 · 03:37 AM EDT  |  Wall Street Daily Briefing Hong Kong Market Overview Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closed up 0.86% at 25606.03 today, primarily driven by a positive regional sentiment following a significant tumble in oil prices. This rebound signals investor optimism regarding a potential de-escalation of geopolitical tensions and its implications for consumer spending and supply chain stability. The Hang Seng Index posted a robust gain of 0.86% , closing at 25606.03 , marking a strong finish to the trading day. This uptick comes despite the Hang Seng Tech (iShares) index seeing a -1.80% decline, suggesting a clear rotation away from high-growth tech towards more traditional sectors. Trading volumes appeared healthy, with market breadth favoring advancers, indicating broad-based participation rather than a concentrated rally. The session's positive momentum was significantly influenced by the dramatic drop in Brent Cr...