04:02 PM EDT, 08/22/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes ended lower Thursday as markets parsed comments by two Federal Reserve officials and awaited Chair Jerome Powell's speech at the annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

* The central bank's Federal Open Market Committee likely needs to start a process of moving its benchmark lending rate down "this September," Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker told CNBC from Jackson Hole. "Right now, I'm not in the camp of 25 or 50 (basis-point cut)," Harker reportedly said. "I need to see a couple more weeks of data."

* Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid told CNBC he doesn't believe monetary policy is "over-restrictive," according to the report. Harker is schedule to be a voting member of the FOMC in 2026, while Schmid gets to vote next year.

* On Friday, attention turns to Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's keynote address scheduled for 10 a.m. ET at the Jackson Hole Symposium, when market participants hope for more hints that the FOMC will cut rates by at least 25 basis points from the current 5.25% to 5.50% federal funds target range at their Sept. 17-18 meeting.

* September West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed up $1.08 to settle at $73.01 per barrel, while October Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $1.43 to $77.48.

* Advance Auto Parts ( AAP ) shares slumped over 17% after the company posted a a bigger-than-expected drop in fiscal Q2 earnings and cut its full-year outlook, while announcing the sale of its Worldpac wholesale business to Carlyle Group ( CG ) for $1.5 billion in cash.

* Peloton Interactive ( PTON ) shares jumped 35% after the fitness company's fiscal Q4 revenue unexpectedly increased and it guided for gross margin expansion in fiscal 2025 despite softer sales expected in the ongoing year.