US Stock Market Sees Mixed Performance Amid Inflation Concerns

The US stock market showed mixed performance on Friday, with investors weighing strong corporate earnings against concerns over inflation, higher oil prices, and possible interest rate hikes. The Dow Jones index rose by 0.38%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.30%. However, the Nasdaq slipped 0.31% due to profit booking in technology shares.

The mixed performance came amid rising concerns about inflation, with the US inflation rate at 3.5%. The market also took into account the possibility of another interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Energy costs, driven by supply issues and geopolitical risks, weighed on the Nasdaq.

Despite these concerns, key equity benchmarks in the US remain in positive territory for the year. The S&P 500 has risen over 16%, while the Nasdaq 100 continues to climb nearly 22%. Oil prices surged near $110 per barrel due to disruptions in supply caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.