Some economists say the rise in CPI reflected short-term adjustments related to a reopening economy, and many investors appear to be confident that the Fed is deftly handling a rebound in economic growth – even as questions remain about how it defines “transitory”.
Data overnight showed U.S. consumer price index posted its biggest year-on-year increase at 5% since August 2008, following a 4.2% rise in April. However, there were hefty contributions from short-term rises in airline ticket prices and used cars, raising some doubts about underlying inflationary pressures.
At the same time, U.S. Labor Department data also showed the lowest level of new claims for unemployment benefits in nearly 15 months last week.
In morning trade in Asia, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ticked up 0.18%. Japan’s Nikkei gave up early gains to turn 0.11% lower.
Seoul’s Kospi was up 0.32%, Australian shares added 0.14% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 0.53%. Chinese blue-chip shares were down more than 1% as consumer staples firms retreated following two days of gains.
Broad credit growth in China continued to slow in May, as the country’s central bank seeks to contain rising debt in the world’s second-largest economy.
On Thursday, U.S. stocks rallied to record highs, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.47% to an all-time high of 4,239.18. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.06% and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.78%.
The 10-year U.S. Treasury note’s yield dipped to a three-month low of 1.4340%, down from Thursday’s close of 1.459%. The 30-year yield was at 2.1270%, it lowest level since Feb. 26.
The spread between the 2-year and 10-year yield also hit its narrowest level since late February, as inflation expectations eased.
