U.S. stocks continued their upward trajectory, closing at all-time highs. The move was supported by a cooler than expected consumer inflation report and sustained corporate earnings momentum.

U.S. equities pushed higher during last week’s holiday shortened trading as cooling economic data, including a more tepid June jobs report, increased the odds of a September rate cut from the Federal Reserve.

U.S. equity markets logged tepid returns last week amid moderating inflation readings and minimal change to the unemployment figures but closed out the first half of the year with robust gains as the S&P 500 returned 15.3%. Additionally, while inflation and corporate earnings data remain at the focal point for investors, the first of two scheduled Presidential debates last Thursday, garnered much talk on both sides of the aisle. For the week, the S&P 500 was down -0.06%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) ended last week also down slightly at -0.08%. Small companies gained ground with the S&P 600 Small-cap Index up 1.21%.

With the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, generative artificial intelligence has quickly become one of the most dominant market narratives as the rapid rise in public interest has sparked a gold rush of innovation, investment, and imagination.

Finances are complicated, and it can be easy to get overwhelmed as bills stack up and inflation rises. How do you make ends meet in a world where your money doesn’t stretch as far as it used to?