Watching jobless claims for next week's read

Bit of a mixed signal on jobless claims last week. The headline number ticked up slightly, but the four-week average is still showing a tight labor market. This puts a lot of weight on the upcoming CPI data. If we see core CPI remain stubborn, especially with energy prices showing some stickiness, the Fed's hawkish stance might find renewed justification.

I'm keeping my eyes on sectors sensitive to interest rate hikes and consumer spending. Tech, particularly the high-growth names, could see continued pressure if rate hike expectations firm up. On the flip side, value plays and defensive sectors might find some renewed interest, though I'm not seeing strong conviction there just yet.