04:00 PM EDT, 09/27/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes ended mixed Friday as traders assessed the latest economic data, including the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure.

* US consumer spending eased more than expected in August, while the Fed's preferred inflation metric rose year-over-year, but met Wall Street's estimates, government data showed.

The Fed's preferred core measure -- which excludes the volatile food and energy components -- increased 2.7% annually last month, compared with 2.6% in July. Sequentially, the core measure fell to 0.1% from 0.2%.

* US consumer sentiment rose to 70.1 in September from 67.9 last month, the University of Michigan reported. The consensus was for a 69.4 print in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

* November West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed up $0.51 to settle at $68.18 per barrel, while November Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $0.48 to $72.08 as China added new stimulus measures as it looks to revive demand in its economy while Hurricane Helene cut into Gulf of Mexico output, though the threat of additional supply coming to market beginning in December is checking the commodity's upside.

* Tesla (TSLA) is expected to report third-quarter vehicle deliveries above the Street's estimates amid strength in its key China market, along with price and demand stabilization, Wedbush Securities said in a client note. The electric vehicle maker's shares gained 2.5%.

* Cassava Sciences ( SAVA ) shares fell nearly 11% after the company said it agreed to pay a $40 million penalty to settle a US Securities and Exchange Commission case against it over allegedly misleading statements made related to the results of a phase 2 trial for its Alzheimer's disease drug candidate.