Business Insider·2025-12-18 15:04Economic Overview - US stocks experienced a significant rise following a cooler-than-expected inflation report, with consumer prices increasing by 2.7% year-over-year, lower than the anticipated 3.1% [1][5] - The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data is viewed as a positive development for the market, which has been under pressure due to high valuations and concerns regarding the AI sector [4] Tech Sector Performance - The tech sector rebounded after a period of weakness, with chip stocks, particularly Micron Technology, seeing a notable increase of up to 14% following strong earnings and robust guidance [2][8] - Micron reported $13.6 billion in revenue, surpassing Wall Street's expectation of $12.8 billion, and projected $18.7 billion in revenue for the current quarter, exceeding the $14.2 billion forecast by analysts [7][8] Federal Reserve Outlook - The combination of cooler inflation and a weaker job market has increased the likelihood of the Federal Reserve continuing its rate-cutting cycle, with expectations for a potential 25 basis point cut by March [5][6] - Analysts suggest that the latest CPI reading indicates the Fed may be ahead of its inflation targets for the upcoming year, supporting a narrative that job market risks are rising faster than inflation risks [6][7]