Across major exchanges, investors balanced optimism from strong corporate earnings with apprehension about future interest-rate paths. U.S., European, and Asian indices posted modest gains, while the dollar remained firm and gold softened slightly. Analysts observed cautious positioning ahead of next week’s inflation readings. Despite sporadic profit-taking, institutional flows into technology and infrastructure sectors persisted. Market consensus suggests near-term consolidation rather than correction, with participants eyeing central-bank signals for direction into the year’s final quarter.