U.S. stocks closed mixed on Friday, however, this was enough to secure a fourth consecutive weekly gain. As it stands, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is set for its best month since October 2022, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite are headed for their best month since July 2022.
On Friday, the Dow closed about 0.3% higher, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.1%. The S&P 500 remained relatively unchanged. With Black Friday kicking off the holiday shopping season, big-box stores Target and Walmart were on the rise, as did Home Depot and Best Buy. The S&P retail sector rose by about 0.6%.
Amazon stock remained relatively unchanged as the eCommerce giant prepared to launch its first-ever NFL Black Friday game in an effort to capture more customers. With customers adopting more conservative spending habits, retailers are going in on earlier and longer holiday promotions than before.