Wall Street Ends Thursday Higher Ahead of CPI Data

U.S. equities closed modestly higher on Thursday as investors positioned ahead of Friday’s key inflation report. The S&P 500 climbed 0.74% to 6,748, the Dow rose 0.57%, and the Nasdaq advanced 0.9%, driven by renewed interest in technology heavyweights such as Nvidia and Amazon. Energy and industrials also contributed to gains following stronger-than-expected durable goods orders. Traders expect Friday’s CPI data to confirm cooling price pressures that could justify a December Federal Reserve pause, reinforcing optimism for a soft-landing outlook through Q4 2025.