Market Recovery Gains Momentum as Tech Leads Rebound
Global equities edged higher as traders shrugged off earlier volatility sparked by inflation concerns, commodity slumps, and corporate downsizing. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.6% and 0.9% respectively, erasing midweek losses. Intel's 7% after-hours surge on strong earnings reignited interest in big tech, while Target's confirmation of workforce reductions underscored the quiet austerity sweeping corporate America.
Futures signaled cautious Optimism ahead of Friday's U.S. inflation data, with Nasdaq 100 contracts gaining 0.2%. The muted moves reflect a market torn between recession fears and the gravitational pull of oversold conditions. Metals attempted to stabilize after gold's worst weekly performance in eleven months, though energy markets remain fragile under new Russian sanctions.
