schema:articleBody
| - The S&P 500 finished at a fresh record Friday, concluding a choppy session on an upbeat note as investors weighed consumer confidence and inflation data. A report released Friday from the University of Michigan showed a rise in consumer confidence as the widespread availability of Covid-19 vaccines brought shoppers back to stores. "Looking ahead, we expect consumers will be more upbeat as the economy continues reopening and employment conditions heal further," said a note from Oxford Economics. "Current pandemic-related supply constraints will steadily ease, supporting a healthier labor market and easing price pressures as economic dynamics normalize." Data released Thursday showed the inflation rate at its highest level in 13 years, but the S&P 500 still finished the day's trading at a record as the market seemed to conclude the May data represented a peak for inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial edged up less than 0.1 percent to 34,479.60. The broad-based S&P 500 added 0.2 percent at 4,247.44, a second straight record, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.4 percent to 14,069.42. For the week, the Dow finished with modest losses, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both advanced. Next week's calendar includes a two-day Federal Reserve meeting that will update the market on when the central bank will consider scaling back its stimulus measures. jmb/cs
|