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S&P 500 TOUCHES 6,000, STOCKS NOTCH ANOTHER RECORD CLOSING HIGH

Investors staggered to the end of an eventful week marked by a contentious election resulting in former President Trump's return to power and a second consecutive policy rate cut from the Federal Reserve.

Trump's victory launched U.S. stocks on a three-day rally culminating in Wall Street's biggest weekly percentage gains of the year so far.

The benchmark S&P 500 .SPX crossed above the 6,000 mark for the first time as the prospect of a congressional "red sweep" raised hopes of a more business-friendly, anti-regulatory Washington.

Bitcoin BTC= surged past $75,000 to an all-time high.

The small cap Russell 2000 .RUT reached its highest closing level since November 2021, and logged its biggest weekly percentage gain since April 2020.

For the week, the S&P 500 gained 4.66%, the Nasdaq .IXIC rose 5.74%, and the Dow .DJI climbed 4.61%.

The rising tide did not lift all boats; sectors and industries vulnerable to Trump's promised tariff hikes, and green energy firms who stand to lose their subsidies, all underperformed the broader market.

On Thursday, the Fed did as expected by cutting its policy rate by 25 basis points, and attributed the move to steadily cooling inflation and signs of a softening - but stable - economy.

Just how steadily inflation cooled in October will become clearer next week, when the Labor Department releases its consumer and producer price indexes (CPI and PPI).

On Monday, the bond market will be closed in observance of Veterans Day.

Here's your closing snapshot:

(Stephen Culp)

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FOR FRIDAY'S EARLIER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:

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INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS GAUGE THE PACE OF INFLATION - AAII - CLICK HERE

CARSON GROUP THINKS THE SETUP CAN STOKE YEAR-END STRENGTH - CLICK HERE

CONSUMER CORNER: UMICH, OUTSTANDING CONSUMER CREDIT - CLICK HERE

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BENCHMARK TREASURY YIELD: 7-WEEK WIN STREAK IN JEOPARDY - CLICK HERE

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