Markets Edge Up as Investors Eye Powell's Speech and Inflation Data

U.S. stock futures showed slight gains as investors processed recent CPI data, which indicated a rise in annual inflation to 2.6% in October. Despite this, analysts like Jeremy Schwartz suggest inflation may be lower than reported, with expectations for a potential Fed rate cut increasing. While most sectors on the S&P 500 saw gains, tech stocks lagged. Investors are also focused on upcoming speeches by Federal Reserve officials, including Chair Jerome Powell, and earnings reports from major companies like Disney and Applied Materials.