Markets Edge Higher as Rate-Hike Bets Meet Fresh Earnings

US stock futures tick higher as investors weigh cooling inflation signals against ongoing expectations for rate hikes, with the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq set to rise ahead of inflation readings and a heavy earnings calendar. Cisco and Cerebras beat estimates but slid in after-hours trading, while Applied Materials is due to report later. Data showing slower inflation at the wholesale level softens near-term expectations, but traders still foresee at least one Fed rate hike this year. Oil prices fell, jobless claims edged up though continuing claims fell, and retailers’ earnings on deck (TPR, DDS, BIRK) add to the market’s focus on how tariffs and inflation are affecting profits.