Overview

• S&P 500 slipped less than 0.1% Friday, the Dow fell 0.6%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.4%, leaving major indexes at or near record closes.
• For the week, the S&P 500 gained 1.6%, the Dow 1.0%, and the Nasdaq 2.0%, the best weekly performance in about five weeks.
• CME FedWatch shows roughly a 95% probability of a 25‑basis‑point cut at the Sep. 16–17 FOMC meeting, with investors eyeing the SEP dot plot and Chair Powell’s press conference for guidance on the path of policy.
• Bond yields fell earlier on dovish data, with the 10‑year near 4.00% Thursday before edging back up to about 4.06% by Friday’s close.
• August CPI matched forecasts at 2.9% year over year with core at 3.1%, weekly jobless claims rose to 263,000, and early‑September consumer sentiment weakened, particularly among lower‑ and middle‑income households.