Wall Street finishes its best week in over a month

Market Overview - U.S. stocks are near record levels, with the S&P 500 slightly down by less than 0.1% from its all-time high, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 273 points (0.6%) and the Nasdaq composite rose by 0.4% [1][8] Federal Reserve Expectations - There are rising expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate for the first time this year, which could stimulate the economy and has already led to a drop in mortgage rates [2] - Recent job market reports suggest a balance that could prompt the Fed to act, indicating a slow enough job market to require assistance without signaling a recession [2][3] Inflation Insights - Investors and analysts believe inflation is not on the verge of a surge, with a University of Michigan survey indicating consumer expectations for inflation remain steady at 4.8% for the upcoming year [4] - Long-term inflation expectations have crept higher but remain below levels seen in April when tariffs were announced [5] Company Performance - RH's stock fell by 4.6% after reporting lower-than-expected profit and revenue, and it reduced its revenue forecast due to tariff uncertainty and a weak housing market [6] - Oracle's stock dropped by 5.1%, although it had previously surged due to excitement over AI contracts [6] - Super Micro Computer's stock rose by 2.4% after announcing high-volume shipments of AI-related equipment, while Microsoft climbed by 1.8% following regulatory approval of changes to its Teams platform [7] International Market Movements - In international markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 rose by 0.9% to a record high, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng increased by 1.2% [9] Bond Market Trends - The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.06% from 4.01%, reflecting expectations that the Fed may soon resume cutting rates [9]