Stocks swing to close US trading week

Market Overview - The US stock market finished higher, with the S&P 500 gaining 1.0%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbing 493 points (1.1%), and the Nasdaq composite rising 0.9% [1][12] - The S&P 500 is now just 4.2% below its record, despite experiencing significant volatility throughout the week [2] Investor Sentiment - Investors are grappling with sharp swings in stock prices, reminiscent of the sell-off in April, raising concerns about whether prices for high-profile stocks like Nvidia and Bitcoin have become too inflated [2][3] - The uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions is contributing to market volatility, with some officials advocating against further cuts due to persistent inflation [5] Company Performance - Nvidia's stock experienced significant fluctuations, dropping 4.3% before closing down 1%, despite a strong profit report [8][11] - Retailers like Gap and Ross Stores saw substantial gains, with Gap jumping 8.2% and Ross Stores rising 8.4% after reporting better-than-expected profits [11][12] - Homebuilders also performed well, with D.R. Horton up 6.8%, Lennar rising 5.9%, and PulteGroup gaining 5.2%, driven by hopes of lower mortgage rates [12] Cryptocurrency Market - Bitcoin briefly fell below $81,000 before recovering to around $85,000, down from nearly $125,000 last month [9] Market Dynamics - Despite the volatility, nearly 90% of stocks in the S&P 500 rose, indicating that the overall market strength may be overshadowed by the performance of large tech stocks [10] - The bond market reacted positively to expectations of potential interest rate cuts, with a significant increase in the probability of a December cut from 39% to nearly 72% [13]