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  • đź’¸ Here's Why Inflation Fears Are Back on the Agenda

đź’¸ Here's Why Inflation Fears Are Back on the Agenda

Plus, compelling stocks that are quietly attracting interest, and more.

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Happy Monday! Consumer inflation expectations surged to their highest level since 2008, as the University of Michigan survey revealed concerns about the Fed's ability to curb price pressures. Here’s why rising inflation fears could shape market moves — and how investors can prepare. Also, check out these undervalued stocks that most folks are overlooking.

—Josh Enomoto

Plus, if you’re looking to boost your trading, check out today’s sponsor.

MARKET RECAP

Last Week: Stocks declined Friday as bond yields surged, with the 10-year Treasury climbing to 4.76% following strong labor market data. Growth sectors, including real estate and financials, led losses, while global markets also slipped on inflation worries and currency pressures. Robust payroll growth reinforced economic resilience but tempered expectations for near-term Fed rate cuts.

On Our Radar: Tomorrow, investors will dissect the producer price index. On the earnings front, homebuilder KB Home will release its financial results following today’s closing bell.

TOP STORY
Chain reaction

U.S. consumer inflation expectations climbed to a 15-year high, fueling doubts over the Federal Reserve's ability to manage persistent price pressures.

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FIVE ZINGERS

Oil Boom: Shares of hydrocarbon energy giants shot higher on Friday as the U.S. may be preparing its most stringent sanctions yet against Russian oil. Read about the broader implications for the global oil market.

Labor Pains: The December jobs report came in much hotter than expected at 256,00, leading to significant concerns about inflation. Here's what Bank of America had to say regarding interest rates.

Fading Star: Although Palantir's inclusion in the prestigious Nasdaq-100 index was a major milestone, PLTR stock has since been a disappointment. Learn what's causing the harsh reality check.

Moving On: Once a key player during the pandemic, BioNTech is transitioning away from its COVID-focused narrative and onto oncology. Discover what analysts have to say regarding the pivot.

Hot Water: The CFTC issued a subpoena to Coinbase over its association with prediction platform Polymarket. Learn why the underlying crypto ecosystem faces scrutiny amid a politically charged backdrop.

SPECIAL OFFER

Each week, Benzinga’s Stock Whisper Index uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks that are just under the surface and deserve attention.

Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance of information to uncover new opportunities and understand why certain stocks should be of interest.

M&T Bank (MTB): The regional bank saw strong interest from Benzinga readers during the week, which comes ahead of the company's fourth-quarter financial results. Analysts expect the company to report earnings per share of $3.73, up from $2.81 in last year's fourth quarter and to report revenue of $2.34 billion, up from $2.30 billion in last year's fourth quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue and earnings per share in seven of the last 10 quarters for each. Analysts have spoken positively of regional banks recently with Truist initiating the stock with a Buy rating and $233 price target. Barclays maintained an Equal-weight rating and raised the price target from $228 to $235. Truist said regional banks have differentiated growth, disciplined capital allocation and can navigate to the evolving landscape.

The Benzinga Pro chart below shows the five-day trading range of MTB with shares down on the week. The stock remains up over 35% over the last year.

To keep reading, and get the other four Whisper Index stocks, sign up for Benzinga Edge here.

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