US stocks today: US stocks end mixed, notches weekly gains as investors parse Middle East negotiations
Why it matters: CPI’s 0.5% rise pushes gasoline prices 21.2% higher, squeezing consumer budgets this quarter.
- CPI rose 0.5% month‑over‑month, driven by a 21.2% surge in gasoline prices amid the Iran‑Israel conflict.
- Nasdaq Composite gained 0.35% (+78.6 points) to 22,901, outpacing the Dow (-0.59%) and S&P 500 (-0.10%) as chipmakers hit record highs.
- Israel continued bombarding Lebanon despite a fragile two‑week truce, while Iran kept the Strait of Hormuz closed, demanding a ceasefire and asset release.
- Investors showed caution ahead of the long weekend, with portfolio manager Jed Ellerbroek noting a pattern of stronger Monday‑Wednesday moves and weaker Thursday‑Friday sessions.
- Earnings season begins next week, with major U.S. banks slated to report, potentially shifting focus from geopolitical risk to corporate fundamentals.
US equities ended the day mixed but still posted weekly gains as a CPI jump—fuelled by war‑related energy spikes—revived inflation worries. Tech and chip stocks lifted the Nasdaq, while the Dow and S&P 500 slipped amid heightened tension over Israel‑Iran negotiations and a looming long weekend.
