Welcome to Markets Desk, your midday read on what's moving money and markets.
The Federal Reserve's June inflation forecast is drawing a calmer reaction from Wall Street than we've seen in months. The Dow, the S&P five hundred, and the Nasdaq Composite have all recently posted fresh record highs, suggesting traders are reading the data as confirmation that the rate environment may finally be stabilizing in their favor.
Shifting to housing, the so-called lock-in effect continues to suppress existing home supply, as millions of homeowners sit tight on mortgages locked in at historically low rates. That dynamic is creating a structural tailwind for homebuilders, who are stepping into the gap. Analysts point to three names in the sector as particularly well-positioned if rates begin to ease from here.
And in energy, U.S. rig counts are climbing for the first time in years, a signal that domestic producers are growing more confident despite oil price volatility. Analysts are separating winners from losers in the space, flagging three names worth buying on current weakness and two others they say investors should be stepping away from now.
That's the tape. Markets Desk, signing off the floor.
