Russell 2000 Leads Market Gains Amid Rate Cuts, Closes Up 16.30 Points

The Russell 2000 index led the market, closing up 16.30 points (+0.74%) at 2,205.47, outperforming other major indices. Investors are betting that bigger rate cuts will benefit small-cap stocks. The index showed strong momentum, pushing higher despite mixed performance across broader markets. Futures for the Russell 2000 also showed significant gains, up 2.6% and later 3.2%. Overall, stock market gains accelerated with the Dow up nearly 650 points, the S&P 500 and Russell 2000 both soaring 2%, and the Nasdaq up 3%. The Fed is cutting rates into resilient growth.