Major U.S. equity benchmarks ended Thursday's session with modest, mixed results as investors parsed the latest inflation figures and positioned ahead of upcoming policy cues from the Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite eked out slim gains, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped slightly amid a shift toward value-oriented shares.

Treasury yields moved higher and the dollar firmed as market participants trimmed expectations for the number of interest-rate reductions likely in 2026. Analysts noted that recent inflation data have tempered hopes for aggressive monetary easing, prompting a more cautious stance among traders.

Sector performance reflected the rotation into value stocks, with financials and energy leading advances while growth-heavy technology names lagged. Overall trading volumes remained moderate as participants awaited further clarity from both incoming economic releases and central-bank commentary.