Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell.
  • US stocks closed higher Friday after reversing early-session losses. 
  • Easing inflation data added to investor optimism that the Federal Reserve could slow rate hikes. 
  • The major indices also finished positive for the week. 

US stocks regained ground at the close on Friday to finish the day and week in positive territory, as investors digested easing inflation data. 

The personal consumption expenditures index was up 5% year over year in December. The core PCE, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, increased by 4.4%, down from November's annual pace of 4.7% and marking the slowest pace since October 2021.