Wall Street Closes Mixed Amid Inflation Data and Major Corporate Acquisitions

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market closed mixed on December 5th, 2025, with investors reacting to new inflation data and a significant corporate acquisition while anticipating the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting [1] - Major indexes showed resilience, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.3% to 6870 points, the Nasdaq Composite up 0.4%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing by approximately 100 points or 0.3% [2] Economic Data - The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index rose 2.9% year-over-year as of September, aligning with expectations, while core inflation increased by 2.8%, slightly below forecasts [3] - Initial jobless claims fell to 191,000, the lowest since September 2022, indicating a tightening labor market [4] - The University of Michigan consumer sentiment report showed improvement for the first time in five months, with moderating inflation expectations [4] Corporate News - Netflix announced plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for approximately $83 billion, leading to a mixed market reaction; Netflix shares fell over 2%, while Warner Bros. Discovery's stock surged more than 5% [5] - Ulta Beauty's stock jumped 11% after reporting stronger-than-expected earnings and raising its full-year forecast [6] - Victoria's Secret & Co. saw a 14.4% increase in stock price following a smaller-than-expected loss and an upward revision of its sales outlook [6] - Hewlett Packard Enterprise's stock dropped 3.9% after quarterly revenue fell short of analyst expectations [6] Technology Sector Performance - Broadcom rose over 2%, and Meta Platforms advanced 1% due to cost-cutting reports, while other major tech companies like Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Tesla saw marginal gains [7] - Nvidia and Apple experienced slight declines of less than 1% [7] Upcoming Earnings Reports - Several companies, including Freight Technologies, NovaBridge Biosciences, and Oracle, are expected to release earnings reports soon, which will provide further insights into corporate performance and market trends [9]