Stocks Inch Up Ahead of Key Inflation Report, But Fall Short of Record High
• U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday ahead of a highly anticipated inflation report, though the S&P 500 fell just short of a record closing high • Inflation and its impact on markets is the main focus this week with the CPI report on Thursday and bank earnings on Friday • Stocks rallied recently on hopes that cooling inflation will allow the Fed to cut interest rates sooner than expected • The yield on the 10-year Treasury note has fallen from 5% in October to 4.03% on Wednesday • Shares of Intuitive Surgical closed 10.3% higher after the company forecast better-than-expected 4th quarter sales