Stock Market Today: Stocks start Santa Claus rally early as Fed inflation gauge cools

Check back for updates throughout the trading day

U.S. stocks extend their December rally Friday and remain on track for a positive five-day stretch that would extend the S&P 500’s weekly winning streak to eight, the best since 2017, heading into the final trading sessions of the year.

Updated at 9:54 AM EST

Santa Claus comes early

Stocks are building solid gains into the final session of the week, with investors getting a head start on the traditional ‘Santa Claus rally’ that typically begins on the first trading day after the Christmas break.

The S&P 500 was last marked 25 points, or 0.52% higher in the opening hour of trading while the Dow shook-off a 10.5% Nike slump to gain 126 points. The Nasdaq was marked 82 points, or 0.55% higher.

Updated at 8:55 AM EST

Inflation on target?

The Fed’s favored inflation gauge is now trending at the central bank’s preferred 2% target, based on data compiled over the past six months, cementing the case for spring rate cuts.

Futures were modestly firmer following the data release with futures tied to the S&P 500 indicating a 10 point opening bell gain and those linked to the Dow suggesting a 52 point decline. The Nasdaq is called 37 points higher.

Benchmark 10-year Treasury note yields were 2 basis points higher at 4.871% thanks in part to modestly firmer personal income gains found in the release. Two-year notes were pegged at 4.344%.

Related: Fed Inflation gauge falls below 3%, with core prices at March 2021 low

Updated at 8:00 AM EST

Big drug deal

Bristol Myers added to its recent string of major acquisitions with the $14 billion takeover of neurological drug specialists Karuna Therapeutics, sending shares in the Boston-based group soaring 47% in pre-market trading.

Related: Karuna Therapeutics soars after $14 billion takeover by Bristol Myers

Stock Market Today

The major U.S. stock markets are expected to remain open for the full trading day Friday, although bond markets will close shop at around 1 pm eastern time ahead of the three-day holiday weekend.

Traders will first have to navigate a key inflation reading at 8:30 am, when the Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes its closely watched Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index for November.

Economists expect the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge to show another notable slowing in overall and core price pressures heading into December that are likely to cement the market’s case for rate cuts beginning in the spring,

Stocks, meanwhile, are likely to be pulled lower by Nike’s  (NKE) – Get Free Report disappointing fiscal-second-quarter earnings and muted near-term outlook. That’s clipped consumer and sports apparel stocks and looks to set to take around 92 points from the Dow at the start of trading.

Related: Nike slumps after cutting full-year sales forecast on sportswear weakness

Futures contracts tied to the S&P 500 are indicating a 1 point opening bell gain, with the Dow called 77 points lower and the Nasdaq set for a 12 point decline.

In overseas markets, the Stoxx 600 was marked 0.1% higher in early Frankfurt trading and was holding on to a 12% gain for the year. The FTSE 100 rose 0.13% in London.

Overnight in Asia, a newly announced crackdown on the videogame industry by officials in Beijing hammered gaming and tech stocks and pulled the regionwide MSCI ex-Japan index 0.28% lower into the close of trading.

Japan’s Nikkei 225, meanwhile, rose 0.1% in muted Friday trading to take its 2023 gain to just under 29%. 

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