Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The stock market is off to a relatively muted start, with the S&P 500 (-0.3%), Nasdaq Composite (-0.4%), and DJIA (-0.4%) modestly lower just after the open.

Equity futures signaled a significantly lower open earlier this morning, but a better-than-feared Core CPI reading (0.2%; Briefing.com consensus: 0.3%) gave futures a boost right before the open.

Action is mixed currently, with six S&P 500 sectors trading higher.

The energy sector (+1.3%) is the top mover so far, supported by a bump in oil prices that follows an escalation in hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, with President Trump threatening renewed military action.

Meanwhile, the consumer staples sector (+0.8%) extends yesterday's advance, with Casey's General (CASY 870.00, +108.82, +14.30%) surging higher after topping earnings expectations.

The information technology sector (-0.6%) is not among the early gainers, though the sector has yet to see a continuation of yesterday's fierce selling pressure. Action has been somewhat choppy already, though, with the PHLX Semiconductor Index (-0.6%) trading nearly 1.0% higher before retreating.