US stocks edged higher on Monday as investors eyed a looming US government shutdown that risks delaying the release of the all-important monthly jobs report later in the week.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) gained 0.3%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) rose 0.5%, with the two gauges building on Friday’s rebound. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose almost 0.2%.
Markets are assessing the odds of a US government shutdown on Wednesday this week, as a standoff between Republicans and Democrats goes down to the wire. Trump set a meeting with congressional leaders on Monday, likely the last hope of avoiding a halt to federal funding. Odds of a shutdown are near 80%, according to Polymarket.
The Department of Labor on Monday said that the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which releases key economic data, including Friday’s planned monthly jobs report, will “suspend all operations.”
“Economic data that are scheduled to be released during the lapse will not be released,” the department said as part of a shutdown contingency plan.
The BLS’s monthly job updates, as well as its release of consumer and producer inflation reports, have been key to the Federal Reserve’s policy setting and the bets on interest rate cuts that have helped buoy stocks.
Last week, jobless claims fell short and GDP growth was revised higher, fueling speculation that the Fed may not cut rates as aggressively as hoped. That puts even more weight on the jobs report, amid forecasts that nonfarm payrolls grew 43,000 and the unemployment rate stayed at 4.3% for the month.
At the same time, investors are regrouping after a losing week that saw cracks emerge in AI-focused stock trading as well as surprise tariff announcements from President Trump for Oct. 1. On Monday, Trump added to those tariff announcements by proposing new duties on movies and furniture.
Despite that, stocks are still on pace to finish September — and the third quarter — with gains. The S&P 500 is up 2.8% month-to-date, while the Dow has added 1.5%. The Nasdaq, boosted by tech, has rallied 2.9%.
LIVE 24 updates
Source link