NASDAQ 100 futures fell approximately 1% following the release of U.S. April inflation data that surpassed Wall Street expectations. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.8% year-over-year and 0.6% month-over-month, exceeding the anticipated 3.7% annual increase. This marks the highest annual CPI reading since May 2023. Core CPI, excluding food and energy, increased to 2.8% year-over-year, surpassing the 2.7% forecast and reaching its highest level since September 2025. The inflation surprise triggered a broader market selloff, with S&P 500 futures down 0.4% and Dow futures dipping 0.1%. European markets also reacted negatively, with Germany's DAX falling 1.22% and the Euro Stoxx 50 dropping 1.08%. The tech-heavy NASDAQ was particularly affected due to concerns that higher inflation could impact growth stock valuations, which rely on future earnings discounted at lower rates. The inflation data raises questions about the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, potentially delaying rate cuts and affecting tech stock valuations.