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Madrigal jumps on FDA approval for liver disease drug

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Adobe drops after dour Q2 revenue forecast

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Micron Technology ( MU ) gains after Citi lifts PT

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Indexes down: Dow 0.22%, S&P 0.48%, Nasdaq 0.81%

(Updated at 11:26 a.m. ET/ 1526 GMT)

By Bansari Mayur Kamdar and Shashwat Chauhan

March 15 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main stock indexes

fell on Friday, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq leading losses on

worries that hotter-than-expected inflation figures could sully

hopes of an early start to the Federal Reserve's rate-easing

cycle.

Ten of the 11 major S&P 500 sectors were trading lower.

Rate-sensitive technology stocks led the decline and

were down 1.2%.

Most megacap growth stocks were under pressure, with

Microsoft ( MSFT ) down 2.0%, while AI giant Nvidia ( NVDA )

shed 1%.

The Philadelphia Semiconductor index fell 1% and was

on track to its worst weekly performance since January, ahead of

the global GTC developer conference from March 18 to 21, which

will be scrutinized for AI-related announcements.

Overall, Wall Street's AI-driven rally has stalled, as chip

stocks lose some steam and recent data pointed to sticky

inflation. The tech-laden Nasdaq was on track to ending its

second straight week lower.

All eyes are now on next week's Federal Reserve meeting for

possible clues on the timing of the central bank's first

interest-rate cut this year.

Traders have reined in bets of a June rate cut by the

Fed to about 58% from 73% last week, according to the CME

FedWatch Tool.

"The earliest possible cut could be June, though we wouldn't

be shocked to see that delayed to later in the year if the data

continues to come in hot, as recent data has," said Carol

Schleif, chief investment officer at BMO Family Office.

At 11:26 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average

was down 85.36 points, or 0.22%, at 38,820.30, the S&P 500

was down 24.55 points, or 0.48%, at 5,125.93, and the

Nasdaq Composite was down 130.43 points, or 0.81%, at

15,998.10.

Friday also marked the simultaneous expiry of quarterly

derivatives contracts tied to stocks, index options and futures,

also known as "triple witching", which can boost trading volumes

and exacerbate bouts of volatility.

Meanwhile, production at U.S. factories increased more than

expected in February, but data for the month prior to that was

revised sharply down as manufacturing remains hamstrung by

higher interest rates.

The University of Michigan's preliminary reading on the

overall index of consumer sentiment came in at 76.5 this month,

versus an estimated reading of 76.9.

Micron Technology ( MU ) rose 2.3% after brokerage Citi

raised its price target on the company to $150, the highest on

Wall Street for the chipmaker, according to LSEG data.

Madrigal Pharmaceuticals ( MDGL ) jumped over 9%, after its

oral drug won the U.S. health regulator's approval as the first

treatment ever for a fatty liver disease known as non-alcoholic

steatohepatitis.

Adobe slumped 14.2% after it forecast

second-quarter revenue below analysts' estimates, following

stiff competition and weak demand for its AI-integrated

photography, illustration and video.

Ulta Beauty ( ULTA ) fell 5.6% after forecasting full-year

profit below Wall Street estimates, as elevated supply-chain

costs and increased promotions hurt its margins.

Of the 498 companies in the S&P 500 that have reported

quarterly earnings to date, 76.1% beat analyst expectations,

according to LSEG data.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.30-to-1

ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.19-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

The S&P index recorded 22 new 52-week highs and no new lows,

while the Nasdaq recorded 37 new highs and 101 new lows.