The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Thursday closed up +0.52%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) closed up +0.12%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +0.95%. Stock indexes on Thursday posted moderate gains on signs that inflation pressures are continuing to ease. The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the Jan core personal consumption expenditures, rose 2.8% in January, right on expectations and the slowest pace of increase in 2-3/4 years. Also, other Fed-friendly reports Thursday on weekly jobless claims, the Jan MNI Chicago PMI, and Jan pending homes sales knocked bond …