U.S. Core Inflation Drops to 2.6%, Market Sentiment Improves
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1h ago
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Inflation Impact: The U.S. core inflation rate dropped to 2.6%, easing fears of delayed Federal Reserve rate hikes and boosting investor confidence, although the S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell by 0.1% and 0.4%, respectively.
- Geopolitical Risks: President Trump threatened to impose tariffs of up to 25% on eight European countries, including the U.K., France, and Germany, which could heighten market uncertainty and affect transatlantic trade relations.
- Corporate Developments: Diageo is considering options for its Chinese assets, while BP expects to book $4B-$5B in impairments for Q4, primarily related to its low-carbon energy businesses, reflecting challenges in the sector.
- Asia-Pacific Market Performance: China recorded a $1.19 trillion trade surplus in 2025 with a 5.5% increase in exports despite U.S. tariff pressures, indicating economic resilience, while Japan's Nikkei 225 surged 4.8%, showcasing regional market activity.
Analyst Views on BP
Wall Street analysts forecast BP stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for BP is 35.90 USD with a low forecast of 6.29 USD and a high forecast of 44.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
10 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 35.150
Low
6.29
Averages
35.90
High
44.00
Current: 35.150
Low
6.29
Averages
35.90
High
44.00
About BP
BP p.l.c. is a United Kingdom-based integrated energy company. Its segments include Gas & low carbon energy, Oil production & operations, Customers & products, and Other businesses & corporate. The gas & low carbon energy comprises regions with upstream businesses that predominantly produce natural gas, gas marketing and trading activities and its solar, wind and hydrogen businesses. The oil production & operations segment comprises regions with upstream activities that predominantly produce crude oil, including bpx energy. The customers & products segment comprises its customer-focused businesses, which include convenience and retail fuels, electric vehicle (EV) charging, as well as Castrol, aviation and business-to-business (B2B) and midstream. It also includes its products businesses, refining and oil trading, as well as its bioenergy businesses. The other businesses and corporate also comprises the Company's shipping and treasury functions, and corporate activities worldwide.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
