On Friday, U.S. stock markets opened with gains, amid keen scrutiny of the financial reports from Apple and other prominent technology firms. Meanwhile, President Trump reiterated his threat to impose steep tariffs on Mexico and Canada, sparking market apprehensions. Notably, the Federal Reserve's favored inflation gauge, the core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, held steady at an annual rate of 2.8% for the third consecutive month, in line with market forecasts. This stability could pave the way for potential future interest rate cuts by the Fed. Furthermore, the December PCE price index met expectations, indicating a sustained moderate growth trajectory.
