Stock Market Today: Stocks Notch Best Week in Months
Nike was a big winner on Wall Street after the company's blowout earnings report.


It was a solid end to a strong week for stocks.
In addition to riding momentum from the bipartisan infrastructure proposal announced Thursday, Wall Street digested a not-so-bad reading on inflation. Specifically, the personal consumption and expenditures (PCE) index rose 0.4% month-over-month, while core PCE, which excludes volatile food and energy prices – increased 0.5% from April, both figures lower than economists were projecting.
"Today's inflation data should calm some nerves about runaway inflation," says Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at LPL Financial. "Remember, the PCE is the Fed's favorite measure of inflation, and it very well could be near a peak in inflation, which should help the Fed keep its dovish policy stance."

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The S&P 500 Index finished Friday up 0.3% at 4,280 – a new record high, and its best weekly showing (+2.7%) since early February – as bank stocks soared on positive results to the Fed's stress tests (which will allow financial institutions to boost buybacks and dividends).
The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.7% to 34,433 – its strongest week (+3.4%) since mid-March – as Nike (NKE) surged 15.5% on a big fiscal fourth-quarter beat. The athletic apparel retailer also said it expects fiscal 2022 sales to top $50 billion.
And, after a choppy start, the Nasdaq Composite eased back 0.1% at 14,360, though still its best week (+2.4%) since early April.
Other action in the stock market today:
- The small-cap Russell 2000 eked out a fractional gain to finish at 2,334.
- Virgin Galactic Holdings (SPCE) soared 38.9% today after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave the go-ahead for the company to fly commercial passengers on future spaceflights.
- CarMax (KMX) spiked 6.7% after the online used vehicle retailer reported fiscal first-quarter earnings of $2.63 per share on revenues of $7.7 billion – well above what analysts were expecting. The company is guiding for $33 billion on revenues and 2 million vehicles sold by fiscal 2026.
- U.S. crude oil futures gained 1% to end at $74.05 per barrel, with black gold surging 3% on a week-over-week basis.
- Gold futures ended with a marginal gain at $1,777.80 an ounce.
- The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) fell 2.2% to 15.62.
- Next week's earnings calendar features some notable names, including Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY), Micron (MU) and Walgreens (WBA).
Bitcoin Closes Out Tough Week With Another Loss
One area of weakness in the market today: cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin prices plunged 7.1% to finish at $32,309, and ended the week down 8.8% (Bitcoin markets don't close; price taken at 4 p.m. ET).
Why?
"China's four biggest banks this week refused to help their customers trade Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies", says Louis Navellier, founder and chief investment officer of Navellier & Associates, Inc.
But volatility in the cryptocurrency is nothing new. In mid-April, Bitcoin topped out at a record high above $64,000 before sinking all the way down to $30,000 just weeks later and then bouncing back up to $40,000.
Bitcoin and other digital assets remain highly speculative and aren't for the faint of heart, but for the crypto-curious, here's our primer answering common questions asked about Bitcoin.
And for investors who are considering dipping their toes into crypto space, but would like a less-risky option, consider focusing on larger, established companies that are profiting from this technology. Read on as we highlight a list of seven cryptocurrency stocks (and one fund) that have embraced this phenomenon.

With over a decade of experience writing about the stock market, Karee Venema is an investing editor and options expert at Kiplinger.com. She joined the publication in April 2021 after 10 years of working as an investing writer and columnist at Schaeffer's Investment Research. In her previous role, Karee focused primarily on options trading, as well as technical, fundamental and sentiment analysis.
-
How to Buy Stocks
Not everyone knows how to buy stocks, even as investing in the stock market becomes more and more popular. This four-step plan can help.
By Will Ashworth Published
-
One Key Rule for Understanding 2023 RMDs
RMDs Required minimum distribution (RMD) rules can be confusing, but there is a guideline that can help.
By Kelley R. Taylor Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Swing Higher After Powell Speech
Fed Chair Powell poured cold water on potential rate cuts, but stocks jumped anyway.
By Karee Venema Published
-
Stock Market Today: Dow Jumps 520 Points After Salesforce Earnings
The enterprise network software firm reported impressive Q3 results, sending the blue chip stock soaring.
By Karee Venema Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Give Back GDP Gains After Beige Book
The latest GDP report showed the U.S. economy grew at a rapid-fire rate in the third quarter, but the Fed's Beige Book sparked concerns.
By Karee Venema Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Struggle for Direction After Mixed Fed Messages
E-commerce platform PDD Holdings jumped after earnings, while rival Shein reportedly filed confidential IPO paperwork.
By Karee Venema Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Close Lower on Cyber Monday
The main indexes were choppy to start the week, though several e-commerce stocks jumped on encouraging online holiday shopping numbers.
By Karee Venema Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Keep Their Weekly Win Streak Alive
The main indexes closed mixed Friday, though all three nabbed a fourth straight weekly gain.
By Karee Venema Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Resume Their Winning Ways
The major benchmarks rebounded from a rare down session to post broad-based gains Wednesday.
By Dan Burrows Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Close Lower After Fed Minutes, Retail Earnings
Burlington was a big winner on the earnings front, while Kohl's slumped after its results.
By Karee Venema Published