"Stocks Continue to Rise as Market Rally Persists: Latest Updates"

US stocks continued their record-setting rally, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 hovering around the flatline while the Nasdaq Composite led gains. Signs of cooling inflation overseas boosted faith in the likelihood of early interest rate cuts next year. UK and German inflation data indicated easing price pressures in leading economies. However, concerns remain about whether faster rate cuts could push the US economy into a downturn. In corporate news, FedEx shares dropped over 10% after the company missed profit expectations and cut its full-year revenue forecast. Meanwhile, existing home sales in November showed a slight increase, breaking a five-month streak of declines. Consumer confidence in the US reached its highest level since mid-2021, driven by optimism about the stock market and expectations of interest rate cuts in 2024.