And welcome to closing bell.

I'm Mike Santoli in for Scott Wopner.

This make-or-break hour begins with stocks holding firm to last week's big gains

and inching toward the old record highs

as investors cling to soft landing hopes entering what

historically has been the roughest two-week stretch of the year with a

suspenseful Fed decision thrown on top. Here's a look at the scorecard with

60 minutes to go in regulation.

The Dow earlier touching a new record high briefly intraday.

The S&P 500 has made up for earlier modest losses while both indexes

sally outperforming the NASDAQ on the day.

It's another burst of rotation away from big tech.

Small caps also outperforming the SFP.

Bank stocks are stand out to the upside with chatter about a possible half percentage

point fed rate cut in a couple of days encouraging that textbook easing cycle trade.

You see J.P. Morgan up 1.7%.

We'll explore all sides of the rate debate

with former Fed Vice Chairman Alan Blinder

in just a moment.

But first to our talk of the tape,

is the market's growing confidence

in that favorite soft landing scenario justified

...