Fri Feb 28 13:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Stocks Rise Slightly as Investors Await Inflation Data Amidst Market Volatility

**New York, NY –** Stock futures edged higher on Friday, offering a small respite after a week and month of losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbed 0.4%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures saw smaller gains. This upward tick comes ahead of the release of the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge. Economists predict a 0.3% monthly increase and a 2.5% annualized gain.

Market sentiment remains fragile, however. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite is down 5.5% in February alone, largely due to a significant drop this week, and the S&P 500 and Dow Jones are also experiencing losses for the week and month. Investor concerns center on President Trump’s tariff threats, recent weak economic indicators, and high inflation. The sharp decline in Nvidia’s stock price following its earnings report further dampened investor confidence.

Adding to the uncertainty, China voiced opposition to President Trump’s latest tariff threat, promising countermeasures. Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission clarified its stance on meme coins, stating that most do not qualify as securities under U.S. federal law. This clarification led to a rise in Dogecoin and Solana-related tokens.

Despite the slight uptick in futures, major indexes are still on track for monthly losses. The Nasdaq-100, in particular, experienced its fastest decline of 5% or more since September 2020. Market analysts attribute the volatility to seasonal factors and a lack of clarity on key economic issues.

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