U.S. stocks climbed on Friday, led by bank shares and economic reopening plays as investors cheered data showing subdued inflation.
The Dow Jones Industrials came off its morning highs, but still hiked 151.67 points to 32,771.15
The S&P 500 added 23.66 points to 3,933.18.
The NASDAQ Composite recovered 50.59 points to 13,031.22, as some major technology stocks reserved losses.
Financial stocks rose after the Federal Reserve announced that banks could resume buybacks and raise dividends starting at the end of June. The central bank originally said it would lift pandemic era restrictions in the first quarter, but even the delayed move gives investors more clarity.
Shares of JPMorgan rose 1.5%, while Bank of America advanced 2%. Goldman Sachs gained 1%.
Classic reopening plays built on the momentum from the previous session. American Airlines climbed 1%, while Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line all climbed more than 1%.
Fears of rising inflation eased after data showed tamed price pressures. The core personal consumption expenditure price index, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.1% month over month, matching expectations from economists polled by Dow Jones. Year over year, the gauge climbed 1.4%, slightly lower than a 1.5% estimate.
Meanwhile, consumer sentiment in the U.S. continued to rise amid the vaccine rollout. A University of Michigan survey released Friday showed the final reading of the index of consumer sentiment was 84.9 in March, up from 76.8 in February. Economists polled by Dow Jones expected a reading of 83.7.
The major averages are on track to eke out small gains for the week after back-to-back gains. The S&P 500 and the Dow are both up about
0.4% this week, while the NASDAQ has inched up 0.2% on the week.
President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a new goal of having 200 million COVID vaccination shots being distributed within his first 100 days in office. As of Friday, 100 million coronavirus vaccinations had been given since Biden was inaugurated.
Prices for 10-Year Treasurys fell slightly, pushing yields higher to 1.64% from Thursday’s 1.63%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices jumped $2.50 to $61.06 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices recouped $6.80 to $1,731.90.
