NEW YORK, Feb 17 — Wall Street’s major stock indexes all fell more than 1 per cent while the dollar hit a six-week peak and Treasury yields climbed yesterday after data showed higher-than-expected US producer prices for January while jobless claims fell, underscoring the view the Federal Reserve would need to keep aggressively tightening policy to fight inflation.
Investors also worried about hawkish comments from Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester about the last rate hike and what future changes are needed. On Wednesday, a report showed US retail sales increased in January by the most in nearly two years. On Tuesday, data showed US consumer prices accelerated in January.
After yesterday’s sell-off the Dow was still up 1.7 per cent year-to-date while S&P was still up 6.5 per cent and Nasdaq was up 13.3 per cent so far in 2023. Benchmark 10-year notes were last up 5.4 basis points to 3.861 per cent, from 3.807 per cent late on Wednesday.