The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) Friday closed up +1.26%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.80%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +1.67%. March E-mini S&P futures (ESH25) rose +1.17%, and March E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQH25) rose +1.52%.
Stocks settled moderately higher Friday due to strength in megacap technology stocks and chip makers. Stocks added to their gains Friday on dovish comments from Richmond Fed President Barkin, who said, "Inflation is not yet back to target, so we still have more work to do, but we don't think we need to be as restrictive as we once were to finish that job."
