EghtesadOnline: It’s becoming an endless wait for U.S. inflation to pick up. And the fifth straight miss on core-price forecasts adds to the burden on Federal Reserve policy makers to explain why they’re moving toward a December interest-rate increase.

EghtesadOnline: The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed and the euro was lower versus the greenback as investors awaited the release of U.S. inflation data later Friday.

EghtesadOnline: Stocks fluctuated in Asia and Treasuries edged higher amid a lack of fresh impetus as an easing of trade tensions paved the way for investors to turn to key U.S. inflation data due Wednesday. The dollar steadied as traders also weighed a possible U.S. military strike on Syria.

EghtesadOnline: Federal Reserve plans for gradual interest-rate increases hinge on inflation rising to its 2 percent target, but it’s not showing up and they don’t know why. That’s undermining Chair Janet Yellen’s case for further policy tightening.

EghtesadOnline: U.S. stocks and bonds rallied Friday, with both the S&P 500 Index and Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching new highs, as U.S. inflation data came in short of Federal Reserve expectations, spotlighting the concerns of some central bankers about additional interest rate hikes.

EghtesadOnline: Bonds rebounded while U.S. stock futures were steady before U.S. inflation data and bank earnings that will serve as a test for the strength of the economy.