Benzinga examined the prospects for many investors' favorite stocks over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.

The three major averages posted weekly gains, with the S&P 500 rising 1.36% and up over 19% for 2024, while the Dow gained 1.62% and the Nasdaq advanced 1.49%.

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 50 basis points in September, surprising many economists who expected a smaller 25-basis-point reduction.

Fed ChairJerome Powell emphasized the need to act early to support the labor market, noting that strong employment requires proactive measures. While hinting at potential future cuts, Powell framed this move...