Stocks rise, Russell 2000 hits fresh record

Stocks rose Friday, with major indexes hitting new records, as investors anticipated a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.

The Dow gained 98 points (0.2%), the S&P 500 rose 0.2%, the Nasdaq advanced 0.3%, and the Russell 2000 climbed 0.1% to a record high.

Apple shares jumped 1.4% on its new iPhone launch, while Tesla rose 2%.

Strong corporate earnings and the Fed’s quarter-point rate reduction, its first since December, supported the market, with weekly gains of 0.8–1.8% for the major indexes and 3% for the Russell 2000, CNBC has reported.

Analysts noted broad market strength, driven not just by tech but by gains across multiple sectors.