S&P 500 Hits Record High Buoyed by Economic Hopes: Markets Wrap

  • Benchmark stock gauge extends this year’s surge to about 20%
  • Jobless claims fall to lowest since May in solid labor market
Eisman on the Fed Rate Cut, Sees No RecessionSource: Bloomberg
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Wall Street traders betting the Federal Reserve will be able to engineer a soft landing spurred a rally in riskier corners of the market, with stocks hitting all-time highs.

The S&P 500 climbed 1.7% — notching its 39th record in 2024 and extending this year’s surge to about 20%. Tech led gains, while defensive industries underperformed. The Nasdaq 100 added 2.6% and the Russell 2000 of small caps rose 2.1%. In late hours, FedEx Corp. tumbled on a bearish outlook. Nike Inc. surged after saying longtime executive Elliott Hill is coming out of retirement to replace John Donahoe as chief executive officer.