5 things to know before the stock market opens Wednesday

Key Points:

• September's consumer price index (CPI) data is expected to show a 0.6% monthly increase and 3.6% annual rise, driven in part by higher energy costs amid ongoing supply concerns, with investors closely watching for inflation trends ahead of the midterm elections.
• Bank of America shares fell over 4% premarket after a $1.2 billion penalty from the U.S. Treasury for alleged anti-money laundering and sanctions violations sharply reduced third-quarter profits, while Morgan Stanley exceeded revenue and earnings expectations.
• AI company Anthropic plans to disclose its third-quarter financials to institutional investors amid preparations for a potential record-setting IPO, as sector revenue figures gain importance following recent OpenAI disclosures and a DOJ investigation involving a security breach at OpenAI.
• Latino voters in South Texas, who shifted toward Donald Trump in 2024, may be a key battleground in the upcoming midterms, with GOP enthusiasm waning due to inflation and immigration concerns in three majority-Hispanic border districts that could influence control of Congress.
• Apple launched its new HomeView smart home hub priced at $299, featuring a seven-inch screen and enhanced Siri capabilities, alongside new Apple TV and HomePod hardware, marking the first major non-iPhone product releases under CEO John Ternus.