Major indexes were slightly lower Thursday morning after a couple of lackluster days for the U.S. stock market that followed a big post-election rally, as investors await comments this afternoon from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

The Dow Jones rose Thursday morning after key inflation data and ahead of Fed Chair Powell's speech. Disney soared on earnings.

Retail sales, plus another inflation report, are this week's main remaining economic data releases. Plus, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is set to speak on the economic outlook, and there are a few earnings still on the slate.

U.S. stocks drifted to a mixed finish Wednesday after the latest inflation update boosted hopes that more help for the economy will arrive next month through a cut to interest rates. The S&P 500 was nearly unchanged and edged up by less than 0.