S&P 500 notches record-high close as rate-hike worries ease

S&P 500 notches record-high close as rate-hike worries ease

By Noel Randewich and Avinash P

Thu August 13, 2026  

PPI was out today and like the CPI showed a flat increase in prices once again bolstering hopes that there will be no rate increase next month and subsequently sending a number of more chip companies surging, the Nasdaq once again up a respectable 3-digits and the S&P with its 50-point gain reaching another new record. After a 300-point morning surge, the Dow dropped to a minus 150 by noon, then back up and remained relatively flat the rest of the day. 

The odds of no hike have been bumped to 63%, up from 48% Monday.  The war remains at loggerheads and the Strait of Hormuz remains severely restricted. But investors seem happy that there is now evidence that the huge expenditures in AI are starting to pay off and that the AI boom is a stable one based on earnings rather than speculation. It’s not a bubble says the experts. For the year, the S&P is up 14%, the Nasdaq 15%. Volume remains well below the 17.5 average, closing today at 16.1 billion. 

DJ: 53,770.27  -21.58        NAS: 26,588.49  +143,04       S&P: 7,748.50  +20.30             8/12

DJ: 53,839.99  +69.72       NAS: 26,803.03  +214.54       S&P: 7,798.99  +50.49             8/13

Thu 8-13-26 5:00 pm S&P 500 notches record-high close as rate-hike worries ease | Reuters