US equity indexes closed higher Friday after the Fed's preferred measure for inflation declined, and the consumer sentiment on price pressures in a University of Michigan survey improved.
* Core personal consumption expenditures rose 2.8% in September from a year earlier, easing slightly from 2.9% in August, according to a delayed Bureau of Economic Analysis report released Friday. On a monthly basis, core PCE rose 0.2%, matching forecasts and the prior month's gain. The broader PCE price index climbed 0.3% on the month, pushing the annual rate up to 2.8% from 2.7%.
* Consumer sentiment in the US improved in December as the University of Michigan's preliminary index rose to 53.3 from 51.0 in November, beating Bloomberg's forecast of 52.0.
* January West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $0.46 to settle at $60.13 per barrel, while February Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $0.50 at $63.76.
* Shares of Ulta Beauty (ULTA) were up nearly 13%, the highest on the S&P 500, as the beauty retailer reported better-than-expected fiscal Q3 sales.
* Paramount Skydance (PSKY) has reportedly offered to buy Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) for $30 per share, CNBC reported Friday, citing sources. Paramount's shares were down roughly 11%, while Warner Bros. Discovery's stock gained about 5.7%. The offer follows Netflix's (NFLX) announcement of an $82.7 billion cash-and-stock deal to acquire Warner Bros.
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