04:41 PM EST, 12/13/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes traded mixed this week as investors debated whether a disinflationary trend that recently prompted the Federal Reserve to focus more on the labor market remained underway, bringing into focus the policy path in the upcoming dot plot and current market pricing.

* The S&P 500 stood at 6,051.09 end-of-play, versus 6,090.27 a week earlier and the Nasdaq Composite closed at 19,926.72 compared with 19,859.77 a week prior. But, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended at 43,828.06 on Friday, compared with 44,642.52 a week ago.

* Communication services led the sector charts. Broadcom ( AVGO ) , Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), and Tesla (TSLA) led gainers among market heavyweights.

* The consumer price index rose 0.3% in November, up from 0.2% each in the prior four months. Annually, inflation climbed to 2.7% from October's 2.6%. Both metrics were in line. Core inflation stood unchanged at 0.3% and, annually, it was at 3.3%. Both metrics met consensus.

* The producer price index rose 0.4% in November, above the 0.2% estimate. October's reading was 0.3%, following an upward revision. Annually, PPI was up 3%, versus the 2.6% forecast.

* The PPI surprised to the upside even if the core and the components that feed directly into the core PCE were a touch softer, Deutsche Bank said. Still, the annual core PPI at 3.4%, versus 3.2% expected, sowed a "bit more doubt about how fast any rate cuts would be next year."

* The 10-year US Treasury yield headed for the fifth straight day of gains, surging to 4.4% Friday, reflecting fresh supply this week, impact of tariffs and tax cuts, and the Fed's policy.

* Investors are watching 4.5% on the 10-year yield ahead of Wednesday's policy move. While a cut is 97% priced in, the intrigue will be on signals given that just two further cuts are priced in for 2025, Forexlive said. The dot plot, which reflects policymakers' expectations for rates, will reveal a "bias and offer enlightening comments from officials about how they see inflation unfolding."