Wall Street mixed but heads for strong monthly gains

US stock indices were mixed on Thursday while still heading for solid monthly profits, which could be the best this year.

Recent data showed core personal spending, the favorite inflation gauge by the Federal Reserve, rose 0.2% m/m and 3.5% y/y as expected last month.

Earlier data also showed unemployment claims rose to 218 thousand last week from 211 thousand in the previous reading. 

Most investors now expect the Federal Reserve to wrap up the current cycle of policy tightening and prepare for the first interest rate cut in the first half of 2024.

On trading, Dow Jones rose 0.7% as of 17:55 GMT, while S&P 500 fell 0.1%, or 6 points to 4544, as NASDAQ shed 0.6%, or 92 points to 14,166.