Stocks end higher as investors recoup most losses after big rout

• U.S. stocks rose on Friday, although they had declined slightly over the week.

• Investors were able to recoup most of the losses suffered during Monday’s sharp decline.

• Investors are watching key inflation data next week, with the consumer price index due on Wednesday.

U.S. stocks rose on Friday but ended with their fourth straight weekly loss.

A surge in volatility on Monday led to a boost in stock market trading this week as investors faced Yen carry trade unwinds and the concerns of a potential economic slowdown.

The week’s swings — with the S&P 500 posting its worst day since 2022 on Monday and its best day since 2022 on Thursday — made for the most volatile trading week of 2024.

The roller coaster ended Friday with stocks rising modestly after struggling to make headway early in the session.

Mixed weekly jobless claims report Thursday helped push up stocks for their biggest gain in nearly two years as sentiment around the economy and labor market improved after investor panic over last week’s July jobs report.

“Market narratives can change quickly, but they are not always accurate. This has happened many times this cycle and it will happen again. Don’t make investment decisions based on a single indicator or number,” said Larry Adam, chief investment officer of Raymond James.

For next week, investors will be awaiting key inflation reports, including the producer price index on Tuesday, followed by the consumer price index on Wednesday.

Wall Street analysts expect consumer price inflation to be slightly higher, but not high enough to derail the Fed’s prospects for a rate cut next month.

“We expect headline CPI to rise 0.3% month-on-month in July, driven primarily by higher core services inflation and higher energy prices. This would leave the annual rate unchanged at 3.0%. At the same time, we expect core CPI to rise 0.2% month-on-month,” Bank of America analysts wrote Friday, adding that if the data comes in as expected, markets will start to price in fewer rate cuts.

Here’s where the U.S. indices stood at 4 p.m. Friday close:

Here’s what else happened today:

The story continues

In commodities, bonds and cryptocurrencies:

• West Texas Intermediate Crude oil rose 1.04% to $76.98 a barrel. Brent crude oilthe international benchmark, rose 0.71% to $79.72 a barrel.

• Gold rose 0.20% to $2,468.30 an ounce.

• The 10-year Treasury yield fell 5 basis points to 3.94%.

• Bitcoin fell 1.96% to $60,499.

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