why are stocks down today

Stocks are down today primarily due to investor caution ahead of key U.S. inflation data releases, which could influence expectations about the pace of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. There is also ongoing concern about sluggish economic growth and persistent inflation, affecting market sentiment. Additionally, some sector-specific issues such as underwhelming earnings reports from major companies can contribute to the decline. Banks are under pressure amid talks of a potential windfall tax, adding further drag to the market. Overall, market participants are reacting to a mix of economic uncertainty and company-specific factors.