Stocks ended slightly higher Monday, while the dollar gained against its global peers, as investors headed into a week bereft of earnings and economic data focused firmly on inflation prospects in the world's biggest economy.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended up 16 points, or 0.05%, to 32,915, while the S&P 500, which is down 13.8% for the year, gained 0.31%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq finished up 0.40%.
Surging crude, alongside ongoing supply-chain disruptions and higher food prices, continues to add upward pressure to global inflation readings, with G-7 average now sitting at a record high of 9.2%.
In the U.S., however, broader economic growth continues to surprise to the upside even in the face of the fastest inflation in forty years, with last week's May jobs report showing a small moderation in monthly wage gains amid a bigger-than-expected 390,000 increase in headline employment. ISM data also noted a faster-than-forecast pace for manufacturing activity last month.
Those readings have given rise to bets that the Federal Reserve can 'thread the needle' in terms of lifting rates high enough to snuff out inflation, but not so high as to choke-off economic growth.
With the Fed set for its June policy meeting beginning on June 12, the Commerce Department's May CPI reading offers policymakers a final look at inflation momentum as they ponder the impact of successive rate hikes on both consumer price dynamics and the broader economy.
Analysts are looking for a headline reading of 8.3%, essentially unchanged from April, with modestly moderating core prices on both a monthly and annual basis.
The CME Group's FedWatch tool still suggests a 94.2% chance of a 50 basis point rate hike next week, which would take the Fed's target rate to a range of 1.25% to 1.5%, with traders then wondering if inflation will pressures will accelerate -- leading to bigger hikes in the near-term -- or moderate, giving rise to the prospect of a 'pause' in Fed move later this fall.
Weekend comments from Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who suggested President Joe Biden could remove some Trump-era tariffs on China-made imports, added a tailwind to sentiment, although a much weaker-than-expected reading for services sector growth in the world's second largest economy, which is still suffering the effects of Beijing's 'Zero Covid' lockdown policies.
China shares got a boost, however, on renewed bets of fresh stimulus from Beijing, helping the region-wide MSCI ex-Japan benchmark to a modest gain. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed 0.56% higher, paced by the energy sector, at 27,985.89 points.
In Europe, the region-wide Stoxx 600 gained 0.9% by the close of trading in Frankfurt while Britain's FTSE 100 was marked 1% higher despite news of a 'no-confidence' vote on the leadership of Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Johnson, who represents Britain's Conservative Party, was told today that more than 54 Parliamentary colleagues had signed a letter seeking his removal, a level which tops the threshold needed for a vote of 'no-confidence' from elected party members.
In order to remain in office, Johnson needs the support of at least 50% of Conservative lawmakers, plus one, setting a threshold of 180 votes. If he gains those votes, he cannot be challenged for at least another year, if he loses, he could be removed from office following a leadership contest.
In the U.S., benchmark 10-year Treasury notes yields lurched higher, to 3.04%, while the dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its global peers, was marked 0.25% higher at 102.40 points.
Tesla (TSLA) shares rose 1.6%, after CEO Elon Musk appeared to reverse course over the weekend on her earlier warning of job cuts at the clean-energy carmaker.
Amazon (AMZN) shares were also in the green, rising 2% ahead of their first day of trading following last week's stock 20-for-1 stock split, which opened the stock at $125.24 each.
Apple (AAPL) shares rose 0.5% as the tech giant's closely-watched developers conference, which kicked-off today at its California campus.
Eli Lilly (LLY) shares moved 0.6% higher after the drugmaker published final data from a major clinical trial that showed a reduction in heart failure risk for patients with type-2 diabetes.
