Stock Market Today: S&P 500, Nasdaq Notch Seven Days of Gains
The main indexes closed out the session and week higher as the stock market rebound continued.


Stocks opened lower Friday but climbed into positive territory by lunchtime. Investors cheered this week's encouraging economic data that showed inflation continued to cool and consumer spending remains resilient. Next up is the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, where Fed Chair Powell will deliver a highly anticipated speech on Friday.
As for today's economic news, the University of Michigan said its Consumer Sentiment Index rose 2.1% in August vs the month prior, its first increase in five months. And while consumers' long-term expectations also rose, their views on current conditions fell to 60.9, the lowest level since December 2022.
Elsewhere, data from the Census Bureau showed housing starts fell by 6.8% in July to a lower-than-expected 1.238 million. Building permits, which tend to be a better indicator of future construction, were down 4% to 1.42 million.

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.
While "consumer sentiment progressed for the first month in five … construction activity plunged to depths last seen near the peak of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020," says José Torres, senior economist at Interactive Brokers. "The cross-currents have traders sitting on their hands as they await next week's central banking developments, hoping that policymakers will offer clues on the path forward."
Powell to speak at Jackson Hole
The most notable event next week will be Powell's Friday morning speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. "An evolution of the July FOMC language would suggest the committee is 'very close' or 'close' to the point where easing is likely to occur," says Michael Gapen, head of U.S. economics at BofA Global Research.
However, Powell could take a more dovish tone, especially following the weak July jobs report, and say that "the committee wants to avoid 'unexpected weakness' in the labor market, rather than simply responding to it after it occurs," Gapen adds.
Alphabet logs longest weekly losing streak on record
In single-stock news, Alphabet (GOOGL) shares climbed 1% Friday but still ended the week down 0.4% as concern swirled that a recent antitrust ruling against Google will result in a forced breakup.
This was the Magnificent 7 stock's sixth straight weekly decline, its longest on record.
Applied Materials, H&R Block move after earnings
Applied Materials (AMAT) fell 1.9% even after the semiconductor equipment firm disclosed higher-than-expected earnings and revenue for its fiscal Q4.
"Demand from China has been robust and acted to offset slower recovery in demand from North America, Europe, and the rest of Asia," says Argus Research analyst Jim Kelleher (Buy). "This regional shift should drive higher sales of leading-edge nodes, which we expect to result in margin expansion across the remainder of calendar 2024."
H&R Block (HRB) was another post-earnings mover, only its shares surged 12.1% after the tax provider's fiscal Q4 results beat expectations. HRB also hiked its quarterly dividend by 17% and disclosed a new $1.5 billion stock buyback plan.
As for the main indexes, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.2% at 40,659, while the Nasdaq Composite (+0.2% at 17,631) and the S&P 500 (+0.2% to 5,554) both notched a seventh consecutive day of gains.
Related content
- Warren Buffett Stocks: Analyzing the Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio
- Earnings Calendar and Analysis for This Week
- If You'd Put $1,000 Into Walmart Stock 20 Years Ago, Here's What You'd Have Today
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

With over a decade of experience writing about the stock market, Karee Venema is the senior investing editor at Kiplinger.com. She joined the publication in April 2021 after 10 years of working as an investing writer and columnist at a local investment research firm. In her previous role, Karee focused primarily on options trading, as well as technical, fundamental and sentiment analysis.
-
Stock Market Today: Nasdaq Hits a New High as Nvidia Soars
A big day for Nvidia boosted the Nasdaq, but bank stocks created headwinds for the S&P 500.
-
June CPI Signals Tariff Impact: What the Experts Say
The June CPI report shows that inflation is accelerating, but at a pace that's in line with economists' expectations.
-
I'm a Financial Planner: Here Are Five Smart Moves for DIY Investors
You'll go further as a DIY investor with a solid game plan. Here are five tips to help you put together a strategy you can rely on over the years to come.
-
Neglecting Car Maintenance Could Cost You More Than a Repair, Especially in the Summer
Worn, underinflated tires and other degraded car parts can fail in extreme heat, causing accidents. If your employer is ignoring needed repairs on company cars, there's something employees can do.
-
'Drivers License': A Wealth Strategist Helps Gen Z Hit the Road
From student loan debt to a changing job market, this generation has some potholes to navigate. But with those challenges come opportunities.
-
Stock Market Today: Markets Chop Up More Trump Threats
Stocks are grinding to new highs on light summer volume, and bitcoin is only getting bigger.
-
If You'd Put $1,000 Into Procter & Gamble Stock 20 Years Ago, Here's What You'd Have Today
Procter & Gamble stock is a dependable dividend grower, but a disappointing long-term holding.
-
Financial Pros Provide a Beginner's Guide to Building Wealth in 10 Years
Building wealth over 10 years requires understanding your current financial situation, budgeting effectively, eliminating high-interest debt and increasing both your income and financial literacy.