US <a s preferred measure of inflation.
Headline PCE prices are anticipated to climb 0.5% month-over-month and 3.6% year-over-year. Core PCE is expected to show a 0.3% monthly increase. These figures are significant because they arrive alongside the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow projection of 3.2% annualized growth for the third quarter.
The combination of persistent inflation and resilient economic output is forcing investors to reconsider how long the Federal Reserve might maintain current <a higher for longer" monetary policy keeps borrowing costs elevated, which can weigh on valuation multiples and corporate financing strategies in interest-sensitive sectors.
The central question remains straightforward. If PCE data lands near or above forecasts while economic growth tracks toward the 3.2% GDPNow estimate, will the Fed lean toward the risk of further tightening, or will it tolerate stickier inflation in exchange for continued economic expansion?
Stocks to Watch Before the Opening Bell
A hacker group claims to have leaked sensitive records belonging to more than 40,000 U.S. Department of Homeland Security employeesas stated that its own internal infrastructure was not compromised. Key areas for investors to monitor include cybersecurity controls, potential contract exposure involving public sector clients, and any associated incident response costs
Visa is broadening its collaboration with Tencent after receiving approval from the People’s Bank of China to establish a domestic bank card clearing operation. The deal focuses on cross-border payments, AI-driven commerce, and money transfers into Weixin Pay, as the company expands its footprint within China’s domestic payments landscape.
A Bitcoin holder transferred 438.37 BTC, valued at US$35 million, to Coinbase Prime, locking in a US$15 million paper loss and sparking speculation regarding potential sell-offs. Coinbase is also in the spotlight as third-quarter results are scheduled for release on October 29, coinciding with a Federal Reserve policy decision and significant options expirations. Market participants will be closely monitoring earnings details and trading volumes around these events.
Top Movers
Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) climbed 16.48% after reporting third-quarter revenue and earnings that exceeded guidance, alongside an increase in its full-year outlook.
Flex (FLEX) rose 11.61% following strong second-quarter results, an upward revision to fiscal 2027 guidance, and progress regarding the Axiom spin-off.
Oracle (ORCL) gained 10.73% after Investor Day targets—including US$225 billion in revenue and US$30 billion in free cash flow—boosted investor sentiment.
