Stocks Rise on Hopes of Future Rate Cuts
• Wall Street ticks up on hopes of interest rate cuts; S&P 500 near record high • Japan's central bank keeping rates low boosted stocks there and raised hopes for more easy money policies • Fed Chair speech last week hinted at potential rate cuts in 2024 to support economy • Homebuilders broke ground on many more new homes in November than expected • Google settles allegations it stifled competition against Android app store for $700 million