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The S&P 500 ended a four-week losing streak with a modest gain, supported by tech strength and hopes of a Fed pause. Investors await key economic data to confirm signs of stabilization.
The S&P 500 closed slightly higher on Friday, successfully breaking a four-week losing streak and offering investors a modest dose of optimism amid continued market turbulence. The benchmark index edged up by a fraction, but the symbolic victory marked a potential turning point after weeks of bearish sentiment.
This week’s gain comes despite ongoing concerns about inflation, interest rate uncertainty, and mixed earnings reports. Market analysts say the recovery was driven in part by resilient tech stocks, stabilizing Treasury yields, and growing speculation that the Federal Reserve may pause rate hikes in the coming months.
“Even a small win matters in this kind of environment,” said Julia Turner, senior strategist at Blackstone. “Markets are still fragile, but we’re starting to see signs of bottoming out, especially in sectors like tech and consumer discretionary.”
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The Nasdaq Composite also ended the week in positive territory, supported by gains in major names such as Apple and Nvidia. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average remained relatively flat, reflecting continued caution among blue-chip investors.
Sector-wise, information technology, healthcare, and utilities outperformed, while energy and materials lagged behind amid fluctuating commodity prices and global demand uncertainty.
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While some analysts caution that a single week of gains doesn’t signal a sustained rally, others are encouraged by the shift in market sentiment. Investors will be closely watching next week’s key economic indicators — including inflation reports and retail sales data — for additional clues about the direction of monetary policy and market momentum.
For now, the S&P 500’s modest rebound serves as a hopeful sign that investor confidence may be gradually returning, even if headwinds remain.