S&P 500, Nasdaq open at record high as rate-cut bets offset shutdown concerns

(Reuters) – The benchmark S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq indexes opened at record highs on Thursday, on the back of renewed expectations for interest rate cuts, while traders brace for a data-light end to the week with few fresh catalysts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 20.0 points, or 0.04%, at the open to 46,461.11. The S&P 500 rose 20.1 points, or 0.30%, at the open to 6,731.31​, while