The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) Thursday closed up by +1.70%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up by +1.26%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up by +2.56%.

Stocks on Thursday rallied sharply, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrials posting new all-time highs and the Nasdaq 100 climbing to a 2-month.  Stocks rallied worldwide Thursday after the Fed cut interest rates by an aggressive -50 bp on Wednesday.  The Fed’s -50 bp rate cut and projections for another -50 bp of rate cuts this year have bolstered speculation the Fed will engineer a soft landing and sparked risk-on sentiment for asset markets.  Stocks maintained their gains Thursday despite an increase in bond yields after US weekly initial unemployment claims fell more than expected to a 4-month low, a hawkish factor for Fed policy.

US weekly initial unemployment claims fell -12,000 to a 4-month low of 219,000, showing a stronger labor market than expectations of 230,000.

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