Stocks Slide as Tech Giants Stumble Despite Earnings Beats; Investors Eye Inflation Data, Fed's Next Move

Stocks dropped as megacap companies like Meta, Tesla, Microsoft, and Alphabet fell despite some earnings beats.

Investors assessed mixed economic data like cooling core PCE inflation and rising jobless claims.

Companies like UPS, Comcast, Hasbro, and Mastercard issued disappointing forecasts.

Focus turns to PCE inflation data on Friday and the Fed's response to cooling inflation.

Israel is preparing for a possible ground invasion of Gaza as conflict continues in the region.