HON - Dow Dumps 500+ on Inflation Concerns

Stocks tanked on Wednesday after March inflation data came in hotter than expected, likely pushing off interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve that investors have been anticipating.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 422.16 points, or 1.1%, to 38,461.51.

The S&P 500 slumped 49.27 points, or 1%, to 5,160.64.

The NASDAQ sank 136.28 points to 16,170.36.

Bank shares, including JPMorgan Chase, dipping 1%, and industrial shares like Honeywell, slipped 1.9% on worries higher rates will start to suffocate the economy. Once red-hot tech stocks Microsoft lost 0.9% while pulled back 0.7%.

Except for energy, all sectors in the broad market index were in the red for the day. Real estate fell around 4%, leading sector losses for the day. The S&P 500 had been treading water in April in anticipation of this inflation report following a roaring start to the year where the benchmark rallied 10%, its best first-quarter gain in five years.

The CPI in March rose 0.4% for the month and 3.5% year-over-year, versus estimates of a 0.3% monthly increase and 3.4% year-over-year, according to economists polled by Dow Jones. Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, accelerated 0.4% from the previous month while rising 3.8% from a year ago, compared to estimates for 0.3% and 3.7%, respectively. CPI in April increased at a 3.2% annual pace for all items.

Investor sentiment was further dampened following the release of March's Fed meeting minutes, which reflected officials' concerns that inflation isn't moving quickly enough toward the Fed's 2% target.

Prices for the 10-year Treasury swooned, raising yields to 4.55% from Tuesday's 4.36%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.

Oil prices gained $1.05 to $86.28 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices docked $13.70 to $2,348.70 U.S. an ounce.