Stocks were mixed on Friday as another key economic release signaled easing inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 60 points, while the S&P 500 Index and Nasdaq Composite fell by about 0.1% and 0.4%, respectively.
Here's how the market settled to close out the week:
S&P 500 Index
Dow Jones Industrial Average
Nasdaq Composite Index
Making Headlines: The Commerce Department's personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.2% on the month and 2.6% year-over-year for December. Moreover, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, core PCE which excludes food and energy prices, rose 0.1% and 2.9% annually, coming below expectations.
The readings continue to signal that inflationary pressures are easing across the economy, which in turn could provide evidence for the central bank to start cutting interest rates later this year.
JPMorgan Chase
On the Earnings Front: Intel
In Economic News: The National Association of Realtors reported that pending U.S. home sales rose at a more-than-expected 8.3% in December as lower mortgage rates brought more buyers into the housing market. On an annual basis, the index rose 1.3% last month.
"The housing market is off to a good start this year, as consumers benefit from falling mortgage rates and stable home prices," said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun in a press release.