Major U.S. Averages Close Mixed as CPI Data Falls Short of Expectations
The major averages closed in a mixed fashion for the day as traders reacted to a full slate of earnings releases as well as the January consumer price index release. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said that CPI for last month rose 0.2%, reflecting a gain of 2.4% on an annualized basis. Both inflation figures were lower than consensus estimates of 0.3% and 2.5%, respectively. Despite the positive finish, the Dow, S&P and Nasdaq still had weekly losses of 1% to 2% as investors continued a rotation out of technology and other risk-sensitive sectors amid worries about AI.Looking to commodities, gold traded higher once again, surpassing the $5,000 threshold as precious metals continue to show signs of strength as a defensive hedge. Oil, meanwhile, was fractionally higher to cap off a strong week for the commodity.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Pinterestreportedand provided a lower-than-expected outlook for Q1Airbnbreportedbut better-than-expected revenueDraftKingsreportedand provided downbeat FY26 revenue guidanceCoinbasereportedAlibabawill be added to a U.S. list of firms aiding China's military,2. WALL STREET CALLS:Pinterestwasto Neutral or equivalent ratings by at least 8 firms after earningsRokuto Buy at RosenblattAirbnbto Outperform at Evercore ISI and to Buy at Deutsche BankNorwegian Cruise Lineto Neutral at JPMorganMerckto Buy at Deutsche Bank3. AROUND THE WEB:Zillowis betting on AI as Google'sreal estate tests spark buyout chatter, Wired reportsSpaceX is weighing dual-class IPO shares to "empower" founder Elon Musk, Bloomberg saysRussia has blocked WhatsApp, citing Meta's"unwillingness to comply with Russian law," and is proposing that Russians switch to the state-owned Max app, Reuters reportsAmazonis directing internal teams to use its in-house AI coding assistant, Kiro, for production work, a move that has drawn criticism from roughly 1,500 employees advocating for the use of Anthropic's Claude Code instead, Business Insider saysMicrosoftis planning to pursue "true self-sufficiency" in the AI space by building its own models and reducing reliance on OpenAI, FT says4. MOVERS:TRI Pointeincreases after announcing it will befor $47.00 per share in cashCorsair Gaminggains after, providing guidance for Q1 and FY26, and announcing its Board authorizes the repurchase of up to $50M sharesRivianand Magnahigher in New York afterBright Horizonsfalls afterand providing guidance for FY26Disc Medicine (IRON) drops after confirming receipt of afor bitopertin5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Moderna, with EPS and revenue beating consensusInstacart, with the company commenting, "In Q4, we delivered our strongest quarterly GTV growth in three years"Wendy'sand provided guidance for Fy256Wynn Resorts, with EPS missing consensusDauch Corporationand provided guidance for FY26INDEXES:The Dow rose 48.95, or 0.099%, to 49,500.93, the Nasdaq lost 50.48, or 0.22%, to 22,546.67, and the S&P 500 advanced 3.41, or 0.05%, to 6,836.17.