Stock Surge: Federal Reserve's Next Move Sparks Market Rally

Wall Street's main indexes closed higher on Friday as investor optimism grew regarding a potential Federal Reserve interest rate cut. Small cap stocks led the gains, with the Russell 2000 index rising sharply. Anticipation for a 50 basis point cut increased, influenced by statements from former New York Fed President Bill Dudley and favorable market conditions.

Wall Street's main indexes ended higher on Friday, buoyed by investor speculation on a significant interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve next week. Small cap stocks showed remarkable performance, with the Russell 2000 index surging 2.5% on the day and 4.4% over the week.

Expectations for a 50 basis point cut rose to 49%, up from 28% on Thursday, according to CME's FedWatch Tool. This uptick followed comments from former New York Fed President Bill Dudley, who cited a strong case for a larger rate cut.

The optimism led to higher performance across major indexes: the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 297.01 points, the S&P 500 gained 30.26 points, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 114.30 points. Traders continue to watch developments closely ahead of the Federal Reserve's crucial decision.

(With inputs from agencies.)