Opening Comment — Tuesday, April 14, 2026
DJIA: 48,218.25, up 301.68
S&P 500: 6,886.24, up 69.35
NASDAQ: 23,183.74, up 280.85
Stocks mixed ahead of PPI data
Stock futures are mixed Tuesday morning as investors are awaiting today’s Producer Price Index (PPI) data release for March. Meanwhile, a reading of small business optimism declined more-than-expected. Investors are also monitoring diplomatic moves to revive U.S.–Iran talks alongside developments on the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. As of 7:15 AM ET, the Dow is decreasing 0.1%, while the S&P 500 is up 0.1%. The Nasdaq 100 is increasing 0.4% relative to fair value on the GLOBEX.
U.S. equities were higher on Monday as existing home sales experienced a larger-than-expected decline in March to an annualized pace of 3.98 million. The Dow was up 0.6%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose 1.2%. The S&P 500 increased 1.0% with nine of 11 sectors finishing in positive territory. The Financials sector was the top performer, rising 1.7%, while the Utilities sector was the bottom performer, falling 1.2%.
On the data front, the National Federation of Independent Business’s gauge of small business optimism decreased to 95.8 in March from the prior month’s 98.8. The headline PPI for March is expected to show price increases of 1.1% month-over-month (MOM) and 4.6% year-over-year (YOY) versus the prior month’s increases of 0.7% and 3.4%, respectively. The core PPI, which excludes volatile components like food and energy, is expected to show price increases of 0.4% MOM and 4.1% YOY versus the prior month’s increase of 0.5% and 3.9%, respectively.
Across the pond, European stocks are mostly higher in mid-day trading as the British Retail Consortium reported that the U.K.’s like-for-like retail sales growth accelerated to 3.1% YOY from the prior month’s 0.7% increase. Meanwhile, Germany’s March Wholesale Price Index rose 2.7% MOM and 4.1% YOY.
Overnight in Asia, stocks were higher as China’s trade surplus in March unexpectedly narrowed following weaker-than-expected exports and stronger-than-expected imports growth. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index for Australia declined by 12.5% MOM in April. Meanwhile, National Australia Bank’s measure of business confidence fell significantly in March to the lowest level since April 2020. Japan’s capacity utilization declined by 0.1% MOM in February.
In FOREX trading, the U.S. dollar is lower as investors await today’s U.S. PPI data.
Over in the commodity pits, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil is 1.6% lower at $97.49/barrel amid ongoing geopolitical tension.
In the metals complex, gold is 0.7% higher at $4,771.28/ounce following a weakening U.S. dollar.