The S&P 500 index edged up 0.3% as gains led by the energy and technology sectors slightly outweighed declines led by utilities and health care. The market benchmark is now up 17% for the year.
Delayed government data released on Friday showed U.S. consumer spending growth slowed in September. The annual personal consumption expenditures headline price index accelerated to 2.8% in September from 2.7% in August, but the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation metric, which excludes food and energy, slowed to 2.8% annually from 2.9% in August.
The data, which had been delayed by the federal government shutdown, came as the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee is set to meet and make a decision on interest rates this week.
The odds of the FOMC making a 25-basis-point rate cut were at 87% on Friday, down slightly from 88% on Thursday, but up from 62% a month ago, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
The energy and technology sectors had the largest percentage increases of the week, climbing 1.4% each. Communication services, consumer discretionary, financials and industrials also edged higher.
The energy sector’s advance came as crude oil futures also rose. APA (APA) was among the top gainers in the sector, rising 8.5% as Johnson Rice upgraded its investment rating on the stock to accumulate from hold and raised its price target to $40 per share from $35.
Microchip Technology (MCHP) was the best performer in the technology sector, jumping 23% on the week as the company said late Tuesday it now expects fiscal Q3 adjusted earnings per share guidance of about $0.40, which is at the high end of its prior guidance of $0.34 to $0.40.
On the downside, utilities fell 4.5%, followed by a 2.7% loss in health care. Materials, real estate and consumer staples also declined.
Earnings reports are expected this week from companies including Oracle (ORCL), Adobe (ADBE), Broadcom (AVGO) and Costco Wholesale (COST).
Economic data will include the September U.S. trade deficit as well as delayed reports on October job openings and the Q3 employment cost index. The FOMC will hold its two-day December meeting, concluding with a rate decision on Wednesday.
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