LIVE MARKETS-S&P 500 scores first back to back gains in a month, Fed on deck

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S&P 500 SCORES FIRST BACK-TO-BACK GAINS IN A MONTH, FED ON DECK

U.S. stocks climbed in choppy trading on Monday, after four straight weeks of declines for the S&P 500 .SPX and the Nasdaq .IXIC, as investors assessed the latest economic data to gauge the impact of the Trump administration's policies.

With Friday's rally, and now Monday's strength, the SPX posted back to back gains for the first time since February 19, the day of its record close.

This, as the Federal Reserve is set to kick-off its two-day policy meeting on Tuesday. According to the CME's FedWatch Tool the market is all but certain (99% probability) the FOMC will leave its current target rate of 4.25%-4.50% unchanged.

Looking further out into 2025, the market is showing a bias for June and September rate cuts, and a total of about 60 basis points of cuts through year end.

Despite earlier choppiness, nearly all S&P 500 sectors ended green with real estate .SPLRCR, up about 1.7%, posting the biggest rise. Consumer discretionary .SPLRCD, which dipped around 0.4%, was the sole loser.

Chips .SOX, mid caps .MID and gold stocks .HUI were among the outperformers on the day.

At the closing bell, the S&P 500 ended down 7.63% from its record finish, the Dow .DJI ended off 7.05% from its record close, and the Nasdaq composite ended down 11.72% from its record finish.

Here is a snapshot of where markets stood just shortly after 4 p.m. EDT:

(Terence Gabriel)

FOR MONDAY'S EARLIER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:

THINGS LIKELY GET WORSE BEFORE THEY CAN GET BETTER - CLICK HERE

CORRECTIONS HAPPEN A LOT, BEAR MARKETS NOT SO MUCH - CLICK HERE

GLOOMY MONDAY: RETAIL SALES, NAHB, EMPIRE STATE - CLICK HERE

RBC CUTS S&P 500 YEAR-END TARGET TO 6,200 - CLICK HERE

WALL STREET TRIES TO LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF ECONOMIC DATA - CLICK HERE

S&P 500 INDEX: MIGHT THE SEASONAL CHANGE SPARK A FRESH START? - CLICK HERE

ESG’S DEFENCE DILEMMA - CLICK HERE

JPM UPGRADES "ACCIDENTAL BENEFICIARY" EM STOCKS - CLICK HERE

WALL STREET: A 'TRADABLE RALLY' IS IN THE AIR - CLICK HERE

STOCKS TICK HIGHER AS OIL PROVIDES LIFT, RETAILERS DRAG - CLICK HERE

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: TRADERS MULL POSITIVE CHINA SIGNALS, GEOPOLITICS - CLICK HERE

EUROPE, CHINA SHINE AS US EXCEPTIONALISM FADES - CLICK HERE