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Major U.S. equities indexes moved higher on Friday as the latest Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) data showed cool inflation in July, which was in line with expectations. The latest signal of moderating price pressure supports the likelihood of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve next month.

The S&P 500 jumped 1.0% on the final trading day of August. The Dow added 0.6%, ending the month with its first-ever close above 41,500. The Nasdaq was up 1.1%.

Intel (INTC) shares notched the best performance in the S&P 500, soaring 9.5% following reports that the chipmaker is considering a possible spinoff or sale of its foundry business. According to , people familiar with the matter said Intel is exploring multiple options for the section of the company that makes semiconductors for other firms. However, it may take time for Intel to make a move, with board members likely to discuss the possibilities at their meeting in September.

Shares of GE Vernova (GEV), the energy-focused business that spun off from General Electric in April, jumped 4.8% to an all-time high. Brokerage firm William Blair initiated coverage of the stock on Thursday with an "outperform" rating. According to analysts, the high demand for energy to power artificial intelligence (AI) technology will likely require more natural gas and natural gas turbines. GE Vernova is well-positioned to benefit from turbine service contracts.

Western Digital (WDC) shares were up 4.1% on the day. Earlier this week, analysts at Citi boosted their sales estimates for solid-state drives, predicting favorable supply-and-demand dynamics. Western Digital also received approval this week for a project to expand hard disk production in Thailand.

Shares of networking and IT services provider Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) gained 3.7% ahead of the company's upcoming earnings report, which is set for release on Wednesday afternoon. Following HPE's most recent quarterly report in June, the stock surged to a record high, boosted by strong sales of AI-optimized servers.

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) shares dropped 4.0%, losing the most ground of any S&P 500 stock after the cosmetics retailer's quarterly sales and profits came in below estimates. Ulta reported an unexpected decline in comparable store sales amid restrained discretionary spending and heightened competition. The makeup seller also reduced its full-year forecasts, noting market share challenges.

Shares of oil and gas exploration firm APA Corp. (APA) sank 2.9% on Friday. Although APA beat quarterly sales and profit estimates in its most recent report, released at the end of July, the stock plunged following those results and has been trending downward since then. Last quarter's strong performance reflected increased production following the acquisition of Callon Petroleum, which closed on April 1, and APA boosted its forecast for cost synergies while noting it was ahead of schedule with the integration.

Super Micro Computer (SMCI) shares dropped 2.5%, extending steep losses posted earlier this week after the server and data storage firm said it would postpone its annual filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Supermicro's move to delay its 10-K came a day after a report by activist investment firm Hindenburg Research flagged irregularities in the company's accounting practices, particularly relating to revenue recognition processes.

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Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has shared his understanding of a chapter of the Bible as it relates to Africans.

Speaking on the Zero Conditions podcast, Kuti said: “If your God doesn’t look like you, he’s not your God.

If you’re closing your eyes and imagining that your God is a white man on white hair, white beards with white robe, you’re lost.

Genesis 7 to 14 has already made it clear that African people will never enter Heaven.

Only 12,000 people from the 12 tribes of Judah will enter Heaven. Meaning, it’s only 144,000 people that will enter the real Heaven, the rest of you will go there to serve in the temple.

So sl@very has already been secured for you again.”

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Reality TV Star Kim Oprah has taken a swipe at medical doctors, by revealing that they don’t make good romantic partners.

She took to her social media page to express her reservations about people who work as medical practitioners .

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A fashion designer has recounted how her acrobatic efforts saved her 55-inch TV from getting damaged after it was about to fall.

According to her, she fell with it, diving in a way that made her  feel like she might have been a goalkeeper in a past life.

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Police operatives in Edo have arrested a 19-year-old native doctor, identified as Timothy Dauda, for allegedly sh%%ting one Alex Ezekiel to d£@th.

The command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, in a statement on Monday, September 2, said the incident happened on August 20 in the Onumu community under Akoko-Edo LGA.

Yamu said the suspect was arrested by personnel of the Igarra Division.

According to the statement, “The suspect claimed to be a native doctor and specialises in preparing charms against g¥ns and c¥tlasses.

One Alex Ezekiel, now deceased, went to the ‘native doctor’ to get the charms prepared for him.

After preparing the charms, the native doctor tried to test their efficacy by sh%%ting the deceased with a g¥n.

Unfortunately, the deceased sustained fatal injuries and was rushed to Ifejola Hospital, Igarra, where he was certified d€ad by a medical doctor.”

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Everyone who lives with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) knows their illness has a major impact on daily life. Many people are diagnosed in their 20s or 30s, a time when we might hope for few health challenges.

Medications, and sometimes surgery, may be used to treat IBD. If you identify as LGBTQ+, you might wonder how all of this may affect you — your physical health, of course, but also your sexual health and pleasure. Below are a few things to understand and consider.

What is inflammatory bowel disease?

IBD is a condition that causes inflammation along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The two main types are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis:

IBD can cause diarrhea, bloody stool, weight loss, and abdominal pain, and is typically diagnosed with blood and stool tests, imaging, and colonoscopy. A diagnosis of IBD may increase the risk of developing anxiety or depression, and can also have an impact on sexual health. People with IBD may require long-term medical treatment or surgery for their condition.

The starting point: Talking to your doctor

Talking to your medical team about IBD and sexual health may not be easy. This may depend on how comfortable you feel disclosing your LGBTQ+ identity with your health care providers. Ideally, you should feel comfortable discussing sexuality with your medical team, including what types of sexual partners and activities you participate in and how IBD may affect this part of your life.

Be aware that health care providers may not be able to address all LGBTQ+-specific concerns. Optimal care for people with IBD who identify as LGBTQ+ is not fully understood. However, this is an active area of research.

How might medicines for IBD affect sexual health?

Many effective IBD medications subdue the immune system to decrease inflammation. These immunosuppressive medicines may raise your risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV, chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea.

What you can do: Discuss these concerns with your doctor so you can take appropriate protective measures. This might include:

How might surgery for IBD affect sexual health?

For some people with IBD, gut inflammation is severe enough to require surgery to remove part of the intestine. For example:

What you can do: Discuss your concerns with your gastroenterologist and colorectal surgeon.

If you engage in anal sex, you may be confused about whether it is safe to do so. While you may feel uncomfortable discussing this concern and others with your doctor, try to be as honest and open as you can. That way, you'll receive the best information on how to engage in safe and enjoyable sex after an IBD diagnosis or surgery.

What else to consider if you are transgender

People with IBD who are transgender may have additional concerns to address.

For example, there may be a risk for sexual side effects from gender-affirming surgery. These procedures may include vaginoplasty (surgical creation of a vagina) for transgender females, or phalloplasty (surgical creation of a penis) for transgender males. The safety of these procedures in people with IBD is not currently well understood.

What you can do: If you identify as transgender, ask your doctor if any gender-affirming surgeries you've had or medicines you take, such as hormones, might affect your IBD, recommended treatments, or sexual health.

If you're considering gender-affirming surgery, discuss your options with your medical team. Be aware that gender-affirming surgery may be more challenging, or may not be advisable, for people with complex or active IBD. It's important to discuss your specific risks with your doctor when pursuing gender-affirming care. Having access to a team of physicians, including a surgeon and a gastroenterologist, may improve outcomes.

The bottom line

Try to talk to your gastroenterologist about how your sexual practices and gender identity may affect — and be affected by — your IBD. A conversation like this may feel uncomfortable, but being candid about your symptoms and concerns will help you receive the best possible care.

Often, a multidisciplinary approach to care is helpful. Your health care providers, including your gastroenterologist and surgeon, may suggest seeing additional specialists.

Much remains unknown about sexual health and practices in LGBTQ+ people with IBD. While more research is needed, open communication on the impact of medications, surgery, and other aspects of living with IBD can do a lot to improve your quality of life.

Source: Harvard Health Publishing