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Stocks Rise to End Week as Soft PCE Reinforces Bets on Near-Term Fed Cut

Futures now assign roughly 87% odds to a quarter-point move next week, with a restrained Fed tone flagged as a risk to momentum.

Overview

  • September PCE inflation rose 0.3% month over month and about 2.8–2.9% year over year, with core inflation near 2.8%, broadly matching expectations.
  • The S&P 500 and Nasdaq notched a fourth straight advance, leaving the S&P roughly half a percent from its record close as the Dow also finished higher.
  • CME FedWatch shows about an 87% probability of a 25-basis-point cut at the Dec. 9–10 meeting, which would mark a third consecutive reduction.
  • Derivatives markets suggest investors expect three to four additional quarter-point cuts by late 2026.
  • Market moves diverged on idiosyncratic news, as Netflix agreed to buy Warner Bros Discovery for about $83 billion and Brazil’s Bovespa slid on Bolsonaro’s support for his son’s presidential bid.