(Recasts with preliminary close of trading)

* CoreWeave ( CRWV ) jumps after lifting annual capex forecast

* US consumer prices rise as expected in July

* Super Micro Computer ( SMCI ) surges on strong forecast

By Noel Randewich and Purvi Agarwal

Aug 12 (Reuters) - The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq ended higher

on Wednesday, lifted by upbeat quarterly results from CoreWeave ( CRWV )

and other AI infrastructure firms, while mild inflation data

reinforced bets that the U.S. Federal Reserve will hold interest

rates steady in September.

U.S. consumer prices barely increased in July as the cost of

gasoline declined for a second straight month, while underlying

inflation was benign, further reducing expectations of an

interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve next month.

"The numbers came in right in line. The market's reaction is

slightly positive because the market was fearful it was going to

come in worse than it did. You're seeing a market thinking that

the Fed is not being pushed toward a rate hike," said Robert

Pavlik, senior portfolio manager at Dakota Wealth in Fairfield,

Connecticut.

CoreWeave ( CRWV ) surged after the AI cloud company lifted its

annual capital spending forecast and topped second-quarter

earnings estimates.

Data center operators also rose, with IREN ( IREN ) and Applied

Digital ( APLD ) both up. Data center company Nebius Group ( NBIS )

jumped following second-quarter results that beat

expectations.

Super Micro Computer ( SMCI ) surged after the AI server maker

forecast fiscal 2027 revenue above Wall Street expectations.

Chipmakers gained, with Nvidia ( NVDA ) and Micron

Technology ( MU ) both climbing.

According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 gained

20.38 points, or 0.26%, to end at 7,748.58 points, while the

Nasdaq Composite gained 145.70 points, or 0.55%, to

26,588.49. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 30.28

points, or 0.06%, to 53,761.57.

Traders are now pricing in a 62% chance of the Fed holding rates

at its September meeting, according to CME's FedWatch Tool.

Before the July inflation data was released, bets were split

between a hike and no change.

The conflict between the U.S. and Iran remained volatile as a

senior Iranian source said there had been no progress in talks

to revive the interim deal reached in June and define a time

frame to implement it, while shipping attacks continued.

Cava Group ( CAVA ) advanced after the restaurant chain beat

Wall Street expectations for second-quarter sales and core

profit.

Lumentum Holdings ( LITE ) surged after the photonic product

maker forecast first-quarter revenue above analysts'

expectations and beat fourth-quarter estimates.