Inflation surprise sends stocks into rally mode as January prices cool more than expected

A better-than-expected January inflation report sparked a market rebound Friday, reinforcing optimism that easing price pressures could give the Federal Reserve more flexibility on interest rates in the months ahead.

The Consumer Price Index rose 0.2% month over month in January, below expectations for a 0.3% increase. On an annual basis, headline inflation came in at 2.4%, also under forecasts. The data immediately lifted equity markets as investors re-calibrated expectations for the path of inflation and monetary policy...