S&P 500 Hits New High on Delayed and Reduced Rate Hike Expectations

The S&P 500 (Index: SPX ) reached a new record high close of 7,798.99 on Thursday, 13 August 2026 before falling back on Friday to end the trading week at 7,785.76 . Two developments helped to spur the index to its new heights. First, investors received good inflation news on Wednesday, 12 August 2026 when the Consumer Price Index came in lower than expected. The second came on Thursday, when the…