Ep44: Record Highs, Rate Cut Hopes & Inflation Whispers — September 11th, 2025

Markets climbed to fresh records on Thursday as inflation data came in slightly hotter but still manageable, leaving rate-cut hopes intact. The S&P 500 closed at 6,587.47, its third straight record high, while the Dow surged past 46,000 to end at 46,108 and the Nasdaq rose to 22,043.07. Small caps also rallied, with the Russell 2000 up 1.8% at 2,421.53. Sector stories lit up the day: Warner Bros. Discovery soared 29% on takeover chatter, Paramount Skydance jumped 16%, while Oracle slid 6% after giving back part of its earlier rally and Netflix dropped 3.5% on executive turnover. Globally, Asia’s tech-heavy markets surged on U.S. optimism, while Europe edged higher following the ECB’s steady-hand decision. In macro moves, 10-year Treasury yields fell below 4%, their lowest since April, as inflation data showed August CPI at 2.9% year-over-year. Commodities stayed mixed with gold near elevated levels and oil slipping modestly. Bitcoin traded steadily, reflecting investor calm. This episode takes you through the numbers, the corporate headlines, and the macro undercurrents shaping a day where records were broken and policy hopes strengthened.