Stocks Climb at Midday as Cooler Core Inflation Print Lifts Risk Appetite
Hyperdash NewsMacroUS stocks traded higher through midday Friday after the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge came in lighter than expected. The S&P 500 rose +0.61% to 7,718 and the Nasdaq gained +1.09% to 27,090 as the softer reading eased rate concerns.
Scoreboard
- S&P 500 7,718 (+0.61%)
- Euro Stoxx 50 6,274 (-0.73%)
- Nikkei 225 66,754 (+1.94%)
- Gold 4,189 (+0.23%)
- WTI 91.34 (+2.19%)
- US 10Y 5.281% (+3bp)
- DXY 101.3250 (-0.05%)
- Bitcoin 84,190 (+1.26%)
- VIX 15.85 (-1.19%)
- DE 10Y 3.586% (+0bp)
The core PCE price index rose at a three percent annual pace in August, wires reported, coming in much lighter than economists had feared and reinforcing bets that the disinflation trend remains intact. Crude jumped, with WTI up +2.19% to 91.34 and Brent rising +1.17% to 103.79, after reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin updated the country's nuclear doctrine added a geopolitical premium. The dollar eased, with the DXY off -0.05% to 101.3250. The VIX fell -1.19% to 15.85 as volatility drained from the tape. Bitcoin advanced +1.26% to 84,190.
Key headlines
- Trump's latest global tariffs face trade court challenge
- Higher interest rates can be scary for stocks, but it's not that simple
- The 15 worst-performing S&P 500 stocks during a dismal September
- Senate expected to vote on stock trading ban, data center bill before election recess
The takeaway
The market's reaction to the core PCE reading underscores how sensitive equities remain to the inflation data. A print that came in lighter than expected was enough to lift stocks and pull the dollar lower, even as Treasury yields edged higher, a reminder that rate expectations, not just levels, drive the tape.
Traders will watch whether the morning's gains hold into the afternoon and how Crude behaves as reports on Russia's nuclear doctrine develop. Also in focus: a Senate vote expected on a stock trading ban and a data center bill before the election recess, and any follow-through in oil after WTI's jump to 91.34.
View the S&P 500 chart and data on Hyperdash
Frequently asked questions: September 30, 2026
What happened in the markets today?
US stocks traded higher at midday after a lighter-than-expected core inflation print, with the S&P 500 up +0.61% to 7,718 and the Nasdaq up +1.09% to 27,090. Crude jumped and the dollar eased.
Did the stock market go up or down today?
Stocks were up. The S&P 500 rose +0.61% to 7,718 and the Nasdaq gained +1.09% to 27,090 by midday.
Why did markets move today?
Markets rose after the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, core PCE, came in much lighter than expected in August, easing rate concerns. Crude jumped after reports that Russia updated its nuclear doctrine added a geopolitical premium.
How did the S&P 500 do today?
The S&P 500 rose +0.61% to 7,718 at midday, lifted by the cooler-than-expected core PCE inflation reading.
What did the dollar and Treasury yields do today?
The dollar eased, with the DXY off -0.05% to 101.3250, while the US 10-year Treasury yield edged up +3bp to 5.281%.
Where can I track live market data across asset classes?
Hyperdash shows real-time prices, charts and positioning for equities like the S&P 500, commodities like Gold and crypto like Bitcoin, all in one dashboard.
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