Markets Rise Amid Rate-Cut Hopes as Tech Rally Rolls On

Group 1 - The Federal Reserve is expected to have the ability to cut interest rates in 2026 due to a significant pullback in November inflation [1] - The Dow and S&P 500 ended a four-day losing streak following a surprising slowdown in inflation, which traders interpreted as a positive sign for potential rate cuts next year [2] - Strong earnings from Micron, a memory-chip manufacturer, alleviated concerns regarding high valuations in the artificial intelligence sector [2] Group 2 - Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were mostly flat, while S&P 500 futures increased by 0.1% and Nasdaq 100 contracts rose by 0.2% [1]