Market Week: September 30, 2024
The Markets (as of market close September 27, 2024)
Wall Street enjoyed a solid week of gains following a rough start to the month. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here advanced, with the exception of the Russell 2000, which is generally the most volatile of the aforementioned indexes. Eight of the 11 S&P 500 market sectors closed the week ahead, led by materials and utilities. Only health care, financials, and energy declined. The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the preferred inflation indicator of the Federal Reserve, inched up 0.1% in August and 2.2% over the last 12 months, nearing the Fed’s 2.0% target. Signs of cooling inflationary pressures likely fueled expectations that the Fed may cut interest rates again this year. Gold prices hit a record high earlier in the week, only to pull back later. Crude oil prices fell below $70.00 per barrel.