Wall Street Opens Higher as Inflation Data Boosts Softer Fed Policy Hopes

A street sign for Wall Street outside the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York on July 19, 2021. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

Wall Street’s main indexes opened higher on Friday after data showed inflation slowed in February, supporting hopes of a softer monetary policy approach from the Federal Reserve.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 42.93 points, or 0.13 percent, at the open to 32,901.96. The S&P 500 opened higher by 5.35 points, or 0.13 percent, at 4,056.18, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 18.07 points, or 0.15 percent, to 12,031.54 at the opening bell.