US Equity Markets End Higher, Jump in Jobless Claims Lifts Rate Cut Outlook

04:31 PM EDT, 09/11/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes rose to fresh record highs Thursday after a sharp increase in weekly jobless claims increased the likelihood of three interest rate cuts by year's end.

* Initial jobless claims increased to 263,000 for the week ended Sept. 6, up from a revised 236,000 the prior week, exceeding the 235,000 forecast in a Bloomberg survey, and reaching the highest level since October 2021.

* The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday that the consumer price index rose 0.4% in August, up from 0.2% in July and the largest increase since January, slightly above the 0.3% Bloomberg-polled consensus, while annual inflation accelerated to 2.9% from 2.7%, matching expectations. Core inflation, excluding food and energy, remained steady at 0.3% for the month and 3.1% annually, both in line with forecasts.

* According to the CME FedWatch tool, the interest rate futures market is discounting 71 basis points of aggregate easing through the end of 2025.

* October West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $1.44 to settle at $62.23 per barrel, while November Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $1.25 to $66.24.

* Paramount Skydance (PSKY) is planning a mostly cash offer for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) , The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources. Warner Bros. shares rose nearly 30% before the close, making it the leading gainer on the S&P 500. Paramount Skydance (PSKY) stock ended 15.6% higher.

* Netflix (NFLX) shares were down roughly 3.4%, marking the second-largest drop on the S&P 500, after Bloomberg News reported Wednesday that Chief Product Officer Eunice Kim is leaving the company. Chief Technology Officer Elizabeth Stone will assume Kim's responsibilities on an interim basis.

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