Stock Market Today: Stock Futures Edge Higher Ahead of CPI Inflation Data and Bank Earnings

TLDR

• US stock futures edged higher Wednesday as investors waited for September CPI inflation data.
• Dow futures rose about 236 points, or 0.5%, while Nasdaq 100 futures were flat.
• JPMorgan posted a rare earnings miss, and BlackRock, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and State Street report next.
• Economists expect headline inflation at 3.6%, and a hotter reading could put an October Fed rate hike back in play.
• ASML and Taiwan Semiconductor report this week, with Brent crude above $105 per barrel.

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US stock futures moved slightly higher on Wednesday as investors waited for new inflation data. The third quarter earnings season is also underway.

Dow futures rose about 236 points, or 0.5%. S&P 500 futures gained 0.2%, while Nasdaq 100 futures were flat.

Trading stayed in a narrow range as caution set in. Investors want to see the Consumer Price Index report before making larger moves.

The CPI report is due at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. Economists expect higher gas and energy prices pushed September headline inflation up 3.6% from a year earlier.

A hotter reading could put an October Fed rate hike back in play, experts said. The Federal Reserve meets October 27 to 28.

Core CPI filters out volatile energy and food prices. Wall Street will watch it to gauge what the Fed may do with rates.

The bond market is also in focus. U.S. Treasury yields held steady in early trading, with the 10-year yield near multiyear highs.

Bank Earnings and Chip Stocks in Focus

Banks reported mixed results on Tuesday. JPMorgan posted a rare quarterly earnings miss, and bank stocks broadly fell.

JPMORGAN $JPM Q3’26 EARNINGS HIGHLIGHTS

🔹 Managed Revenue: $50.9B; +8% YoY
🔹 Adj. EPS: $5.75 (Est. $5.90) 🔴
🔹 GAAP EPS: $5.57; +10% YoY
🔹 Fixed Income Markets: $5.4B (Est. $5.89B) 🔴
🔹 Equity Markets: $5.0B (Est. $4.5B) 🟢; +49% YoY

Segment Revenue:
🔹 Consumer &… pic.twitter.com/avi7a3KMHL

— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) October 13, 2026

Other investment banks also reported on Tuesday. Those results suggested consumers are holding up despite higher interest rates.

More financial firms report today. BlackRock, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and State Street are all scheduled to post results.

Money has been moving out of tech and into defensive and healthcare stocks. That has given the Dow a slight edge over the tech-heavy Nasdaq again this morning.

Chip stocks are also in view. ASML reports on Wednesday, and Taiwan Semiconductor follows on Thursday.

Investors will look for signs that AI demand remains strong. Stocks were poised for a recovery as the chip sell-off eased in South Korea.

The KOSPI index rose after falling 12% over the past five days. Nasdaq 100 futures were just above the flatline.

Oil prices remain a concern. Brent crude futures, the global benchmark, held above $105 per barrel as Houthis continued to bomb Saudi Arabian energy facilities.