Stocks climbed Friday as investors looked to end a volatile month of trading on a high note, while assessing crucial inflation data closely watched by the Federal Reserve.
The 30-stock index gained 78.22 points to open the month’s last session at 41,413.27.
The S&P 500 recovered 33.36 points to 5,625.32.
The tech-heavy NASDAQ gathered 143.97 points to 17,660.40.
As August’s trading winds down, the S&P 500 is on pace for a nearly 1.9% gain during the month, while the Dow is on track to add 1.5%. The NASDAQ Composite has lagged, rising just 0.3%. The S&P 500 was on pace for its fourth straight winning month.
The personal consumption expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, rose 0.2% on a monthly basis and 2.5% from a year ago, coming in line with estimates from economists polled by Dow Jones. Excluding food and energy, it also rose 0.2%.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury gained slightly, lowering yields to 3.87% from Thursday’s 3.88%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices skidded $2.07 to $73.84 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices settled $15.00 to $2,545.30
