Every of the eleven S&P 500’s sectors posted a positive weekly performance. Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLRE) and the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLB), up 4.5% and 3.6% respectively, were among the best performers.

U.S. inflation eases more than expected in October: The U.S. inflation rate in October decelerated to 3.2% year-over-year, down from the 3.7% observed in September and below the expected 3.3%. The annual core inflation rate, which strips out volatile food and energy costs, ticked down from 4.1% to 4% year-over-year in October.

Producer prices deflate, retail sales contract: The Producer Price Index fell by 0.5% month-on-month, marking the first move toward deflation since May 2023, down from a revised 0.4% surge in September and below the expected 0.1% increase. Retail sales revealed a month-on-month contraction of 0.1%: a slowdown from the upwardly revised 0.9% increase in September, but slightly better than the expected 0.3% contraction. 

Five intriguing price shifts, a Thanksgiving cost conundrum and more: Delving into the inflation reports, Benzinga identified five significant price trends influencing both U.S. consumers and producers. Key observations include the sharp decline in gasoline prices, the popping of the egg price bubble, the continuous steep increase in orange juice prices and the upward trend in service costs, notably for sporting events and motor insurance. Additionally, the cost of Thanksgiving turkeys presents an intriguing dynamic this season.

Walmart beats expectations, but stock plummets on cautious outlook: Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) reported third-quarter FY24 sales growth of 5.2% year-over-year to $160.8 billion, beating the consensus of $159.55 billion. Earnings per share came in at $1.53, marginally beating expectations of $1.522. The retail giant’s shares plummeted over 8%, as the company also cautioned about a possible consumer spending slowdown and deflationary pressures on prices in the forthcoming months. 

Joe Biden calls Xi Jinping a ‘dictator’ after crucial meeting: President Joe Biden called Chinese President Xi Jinping a "dictator" in the aftermath of the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. The summit, marking the first in-person meeting of the two world leaders in over a year, delved into intricate issues such as climate change, artificial intelligence, geopolitics and global economic growth. 

Benzinga's Fintech and Digital Assets Event in New York: Benzinga recently hosted a two-day live gathering in New York, with Unicoin as the main sponsor, spotlighting outstanding speakers in the realms of fintech and digital assets. The event’s agenda featured discussions on vital topics such as blockchain’s impact, the democratization of investing, the progress in crypto ETFs, and more. 

Upcoming Earnings To Watch: Attention is squarely focused on semiconductor stock Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA)’s third-quarter earnings, set for release in the aftermarket session Tuesday. The week will also see other major players sharing their financials, with Lowe’s Companies Inc. (NYSE:LOWE) and Analog Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI) reporting on Tuesday and Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) on Wednesday.