STOCKS/ECONOMY
-Stock futures are higher after Tuesday's 478-point loss for the Dow, smaller 0.8 percent fall for the S&P 500, and a 0.2 percent dip lower for the Nasdaq. Investors are responding bullishly to a tamer than expected consumer inflation report.
-That CPI report came in at 0.2 percent for February, with an annual rate of 2.8 percent. 0.3 percent and 2.9 percent were expected, respectively.
-The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond is at 4.27 percent.
-The average 30-year mortgage rate fell to 6.67 percent last week from 6.73 percent the week before. That pushed refinance applications up by 16 percent and new mortgage applications up by 7 percent.
-Gold is at the $2,919 per ounce level. Bitcoin is at the $83,900 level.
-Asian markets closed mostly lower today. The Hang Seng fell 0.8 percent, the Nikkei gained 0.1 percent, and the Shenzhen fell 0.2 percent.
OIL/ENERGY
-U.S. crude prices are up and at the $67 a barrel level.
-Gasoline prices are holding at $3.08 a gallon, national average.
TESLA TUMULT
-Tesla (TSLA) shares are up 4 percent in the premarket after President Trump bought a Tesla on the White House lawn Tuesday and Morgan Stanley advised investors to buy the stock on the dip. Tesla is still down 43 percent so far this year.
CHIPS AHOY!
-Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) has pitched a plan to rival chipmakers Nvidia (NVDA), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Broadcom (AVGO) to takeover and operate Intel's (INTC) foundry division as a joint venture. Intel shares are up 6 percent in the premarket, Taiwan Semiconductor shares are up 1 percent.
BUDGET BATTLE
-The House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution bill that will avoid a government shutdown Friday night if the Senate passes it as well.
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