{"id":59650,"date":"2026-03-11T09:07:35","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T13:07:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/markets-steady-as-cpi-meets-expectations-amid-geopolitical-volatility-oracle-surges-on-ai-demand\/59650\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T09:07:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T13:07:35","slug":"markets-steady-as-cpi-meets-expectations-amid-geopolitical-volatility-oracle-surges-on-ai-demand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/markets-steady-as-cpi-meets-expectations-amid-geopolitical-volatility-oracle-surges-on-ai-demand\/59650\/","title":{"rendered":"Markets Steady as CPI Meets Expectations Amid Geopolitical Volatility; Oracle Surges on AI Demand"},"content":{"rendered":"

U.S. equity markets are navigating a complex landscape this Wednesday, March 11, 2026, as investors balance a critical inflation report against escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Premarket<\/a> activity was characterized by cautious trading, with futures on the major indexes showing modest declines as the financial world awaited the 8:30 AM ET release of the February Consumer Price Index (CPI).<\/p>\n

Premarket Activity and Economic Data<\/h2>\n

Leading into the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones<\/a> Industrial Average (DJI<\/a>) were down 0.25%, while S&P 500<\/a> (SPX<\/a>) futures slipped 0.13% and Nasdaq 100 (NDX<\/a>) futures edged lower by 0.12%. The primary focus of the morning was the Bureau of Labor Statistics' CPI report, which revealed that headline inflation rose 2.4% on a year-over-year basis in February, matching economist expectations. Core CPI, which excludes the volatile food and energy sectors, came in at 2.5%.<\/p>\n

While the data suggests that inflation remains "sticky," the fact that it did not surprise to the upside provided a sense of relief to a market rattled by recent spikes in energy costs. Crude oil prices have been on a roller-coaster ride this week due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran and disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude was trading near $90.11 per barrel this morning, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) hovered around $86.08.<\/p>\n

Major Index Performance<\/h2>\n

As the regular session got underway, the major market indexes showed resilience. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC<\/a>) found support from the technology sector, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA<\/a>) faced pressure from industrial and credit-sensitive components. The S&P 500 (SPY<\/a>) remained in a tight consolidation range as traders weighed the likelihood of the Federal Reserve maintaining its current interest rate path in light of the CPI data.<\/p>\n

Corporate News and Major Stock Movers<\/h2>\n

The technology sector is seeing significant dispersion today. Oracle (ORCL<\/a>) is the standout performer, with shares surging over 10% after the company reported Q3 results that blew past analyst estimates. The jump was driven by a 44% year-over-year increase in revenue from new AI contracts, underscoring the continued dominance of artificial intelligence as a primary market driver.<\/p>\n

In contrast, AeroVironment (AVAV<\/a>) saw its shares tumble 10% in early trading. The company missed revenue expectations and lowered its full-year guidance following the pause of a major U.S. Space Force contract. Meanwhile, Rivian Automotive (RIVN<\/a>) climbed 8% following an upgrade from TD Cowen, which cited a strong demand outlook for the company\u2019s upcoming R2 SUV.<\/p>\n

Other notable movers include:<\/p>\n