"Tech Chill: Intel's Bleak Outlook Sends US Futures Slipping"

Stocks edged lower as Intel's gloomy outlook and a key inflation reading influenced investor sentiment, with the S&P 500 slipping and the Nasdaq Composite sinking, while the Dow Jones remained virtually unchanged. Intel's first-quarter outlook fell short of expectations, impacting tech stocks, and the release of the PCE index for December showed a slower inflation rate, potentially signaling a "soft landing" for the US economy. With the Fed's first policy meeting approaching, positive economic data may prompt interest rate cuts later this year, while investors await further corporate earnings reports for insight into the economy's health.