Wall Street Wraps Volatile Week with Mixed Results

Wall Street closed out a volatile week on Friday, with mixed results for major indices. The S&P 500 gained 0.12% to end at 7,647.19 points, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.35% to 26,511.01. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.22% to 51,663.30.

The week was marked by a semiconductor rally, which helped US equities avoid a significant selloff. Despite this, investors approached the end of the week with caution, hesitant to make big bets in an environment where exogenous events could create uncertainty on Monday.

Inflation concerns remained prominent as crude prices settled above $100 per barrel, but eased back from session highs after China asked Iran to limit attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. Central banks around the globe have embarked on a policy-tightening cycle to rein in inflation fueled by the conflict.