*The dollar (.DXY) fell to a fresh two-month low against a basket of currencies after data showed U.S. consumer prices rose solidly in December.*
*Which companies were in focus?*
*Jefferies Inc.* said Wednesday its fourth-quarter net income rose 6% to $324.9 million, or $1.20 a share, from $307.3 million, or $1.11 a share in the year-ago quarter. Shares fell 9.3%.
Shares of *Pfizer Inc. closed 0.1%* lower after the company said administering the Prevnar 20 pneumococcal disease shot at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine and booster it developed with BioNTech SE BNTX produced the same response.
Shares of *Intuitive Surgical Inc . fell 1.5%*, after the minimally invasive care company provided an upbeat fourth-quarter revenue outlook, on strength in instruments and accessories and as the COVID-19 resurgence hurt results.
*Popular Inc.* said Wednesday it expects to repurchase $500 million worth of its stock in 2022, and that it raised its quarterly dividend by 22%, to 55 cents a share from 45 cents. Its stock rose 0.4%.
*DirecTV and Dish Network* are in fresh talks to merge after years of on-again, off-again wrangling and multiple clampdowns from federal antitrust officials, the New York Post reported. Shares of Dish advanced 2.8%.
Shares of *Tesla Inc .* were in focus, closing up 3.9%, after a teenager, calling himself a 19-year-old security specialist and hacker, said that he had hacked into the software systems of nearly two dozen Tesla electric-powered vehicles and had limited control over them.
*Chinese markets also rose on Wednesday, tracking gains across Asia-Pacific. Data released in Asia on Wednesday included China’s consumer and producer price index for December. The index was up 1.5% in December compared to a year ago, according to Reuters — a drop from the 2.3% increase in November and lower than the 1.8% rise expected in a Reuters poll.*
The Shanghai Composite SHCOMP rose 0.8%, while the Hang Seng Index HSI closed 2.8% higher and Japan’s Nikkei 225 NIK rallied 1.9%.
*European stocks closed higher on Wednesday as investors monitored the latest reading of U.S. inflation data.*
*Here are some key events this week:*
U.S. initial jobless claims, PPI on Thursday.
U.S. Senate Banking Committee hearing for Lael Brainard, nominated as Fed vice-chair on Thursday.
Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin, Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker,
Chicago Fed President Charles Evans speak on Thursday.
Bank of Korea policy decision and briefing on Friday.
Wells Fargo, Citigroup, JPMorgan due to report earnings on Friday.
U.S. business inventories, industrial production, University of Michigan consumer sentiment, retail sales on Friday.
New York Fed President John Williams speaks Friday.
*Currencies*
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.6%
The euro rose 0.7% to $1.1449
The British pound rose 0.6% to $1.3711
The Japanese yen rose 0.7% to 114.52 per dollar
*Bonds*
The yield on 10-year Treasuries was little changed at 1.73%
Germany’s 10-year yield declined three basis points to -0.06%
Britain’s 10-year yield declined three basis points to 1.14%
*Commodities*
West Texas Intermediate crude rose 1.9% to $82.75 a barrel
Gold futures rose 0.5% to $1,827 an ounce
By: via @AlliesFin Serve Stock Market
