US market liveblog: stocks set for mixed open ahead of Fed decision US stocks are set for a mixed open on Wednesday as investors look ahead to the Federal Reserve's latest interest-rate decision, while renewed tensions in the Middle East and continued pressure on semiconductor stocks cloud...
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Walmart, Costco, and Home Depot each sit at a very different point on the risk and reward map right now, and consumer sentiment just printed deep inside recessionary territory. One of these retail giants stands out as the clear winner while two others demand patience.
Although they sit atop the home improvement industry, these two businesses aren't immune from macroeconomic forces.
Investors are putting more thought and energy into minimizing taxes and investment fees these days. Today’s U.S. consumer-price index report and Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh’s debut following next week’s rate decision will give investors an important reading on the cost of living and how much of a priority controlling it is in Washington. The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge has been running above its own target for 62 months straight.
RH's Q1 results are likely to reflect housing weakness, tariffs and expansion costs amid gallery momentum and Milan/London buildout.
Shoppers continue to open their pocketbooks, boosting retailers like Walmart, even as inflation jumps to its highest level in three years.

Mortgage rates continue to rise from spring levels, driven by the economic shocks from inflation, oil prices (CL=F, BZ=F), and the latest surge in Treasury yields (^TYX, ^TNX, ^FVX). Yahoo Finance Senior Housing Reporter Claire Boston examines the impact elevated mortgage rates are having on the US housing market, as well as diving into the details of the US House of Representatives' housing affordability bill.
FTSE 100 up 12 points at 10,343 UK inflation eases to 2.8% in April M&S, British Land, Experian, Severn Trent report results 12.59pm: Grocery analyst not a fan of Treasury food plan On the stories that the Treasury is asking major UK supermarkets to limit prices on some basic...

<body><p>STORY: Home Depot on Tuesday said Americans are scaling back on large home remodeling projects as they grapple with economic uncertainty and a subdued housing market.</p><p>:: Home Depot handout</p><p>The big box retailer kicked off a big week of corporate earnings results by beating both sales and profit estimates, but warned that its customers remain cautious.</p><p>U.S. consumer sentiment slumped to a record low in early May as the war in Iran fanned inflation pressures and strained household finances.</p><p>That's kept spending on home improvement projects muted amid elevated mortgage rates and high home prices.</p><p>:: Home Depot handout</p><p>Going forward, Home Depot expects both sales and profit to be in the range of flat to a small rise.</p><p>The company said elevated fuel costs are also pressuring the business through both transportation and input expenses, but noted that tariff refunds could help significantly.</p><p>Results from fellow U.S. retailers this week are likely to shed more light on the state of the consumer.</p><p>Rival Lowe's and big-box retailer Target are set to report on Wednesday, followed on Thursday by sector bellwether Walmart.</p></body>
Consumers are holding back on some more expensive home improvement projects as the Iran war drives up inflation, according to executives at Home Depot.
Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart and Target report earnings this week, offering a clear picture of how consumers are faring amid inflation and high energy costs.
Home Depot reports earnings Tuesday as investors look for signs that weak housing demand and cautious consumers are still weighing on home-improvement sales.
Consumer companies could steal the spotlight as markets look to assess the health of the economy amid renewed inflation fears.
Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) CEO Marc Bitzer is making one of the bluntest recession comparisons of this earnings cycle. According to the Morning Brew Daily podcast segment covering the company’s Q1 results, CEO Bitzer told investors: “This level of industry decline is similar to what we have observed during the global financial crisis and even higher than ... Whirlpool’s CEO Warns Consumer Spending Today Looks Like the 2008 Financial Crisis
Wall Street shares were set for a mixed start on Wednesday as investors prepare to wait for news from Donald Trump’s visit to China. Stock futures pointed in different directions ahead of the opening bell, with Dow Jones futures down 114 points or 0.2% at 49,755, while S&P 500 futures...