U.S. Stocks Rise as Cooler Inflation Boosts Hopes for Fed Rate Cut

U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday as a softer inflation reading strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve could move forward with an interest-rate cut next week. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 104 points, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.3%, extending a week of cautious optimism across markets.

Investors focused heavily on the latest Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge. The report showed core PCE cooling to 2.8% year-over-year in September, slightly below expectations and reinforcing hopes that inflation is steadily easing. On a monthly basis, core prices rose just 0.2%, giving policymakers more confidence that price pressures are moderating. With the economy showing signs of slowing, traders are increasingly pricing in a 25-basis-point rate cut at the Fed’s December 9–10 meeting.

Labor market data added to the mixed but cooling economic picture. Weekly jobless claims dropped sharply by 27,000 to 191,000—its lowest level since late 2022—though analysts warned that Thanksgiving-related distortions may have contributed. Meanwhile, ADP reported a 32,000 drop in private payrolls, the largest decline in more than two years, and Challenger, Gray & Christmas noted that although announced job cuts fell significantly in November, companies remain cautious about hiring.

In corporate news, Netflix made headlines after agreeing to acquire Warner Bros Discovery in a major cash-and-stock deal valued at $27.75 per share, giving the transaction an enterprise value of roughly $82.7 billion. The deal follows a competitive bidding process and would give Netflix control of one of the industry’s richest entertainment libraries, significantly expanding its media footprint.

Elsewhere, Ulta Beauty surged after beating Wall Street expectations and raising its full-year outlook, while Victoria’s Secret shares climbed on better-than-expected earnings tied to its ongoing turnaround efforts. On the downside, Hewlett Packard Enterprise saw its stock slump after missing quarterly revenue estimates with $9.68 billion reported versus expectations of $9.94 billion.

On the geopolitical front, Treasury Secretary Bessent offered an encouraging update on U.S.-China trade relations, noting that progress on recent agreements between President Xi Jinping and former President Donald Trump is “going well.”