Stocks climb after weak US jobs data, but bonds resume selling

Stocks climb after weak US jobs data, but bonds resume selling

By Caroline Valetkevitch and Samuel Indyk

Fri October 2, 2026  

The markets have been looking for signs of inflation easing and they got that today with a government jobs report showing only 1/3 as many new jobs as forecast and additionally a reduction of 30K jobs from August. With the labor market stable but not as hot as expected, this has again lowered the odds of an October rate hike to just 21% vs Thursday’s 28.2% vs 70% earlier in the week. Thus, all the indexes shot way up right out the gate and stayed there all day.  

Equities rebound to close higher as surging Treasury yields recede

Equities rebound to close higher as surging Treasury yields recede

By Chuck Mikolajczak and Johann M Cherian

Thu October 1, 2026  

After spending most of the day in the red, the indexes all rebounded in the afternoon to close just above break-even.  Treasury yields continued to climb with the 10-year hitting a 24-year high. PMI came in 2 points lower than August due to increased input prices which again raises the specter of inflation. In good news, jobless claims dipped 3,000 below the 200,000 forecast indicating a solid job market.  

S&P 500 dips, Nasdaq higher after data shows moderate inflation rise

S&P 500 dips, Nasdaq higher after data shows moderate inflation rise

By Chuck Mikolajczak and Shashwat Chauhan

Wed September 30, 2026  

The Dow took another big drubbing right out the gate but both tech indexes started in very positive territory, the S&P up over 50 points before noon before gradually declining, the Nasdaq up over 400 most of the day before a precipitous decline in the final half hour. What triggered all these great gains was a PCE report coming in well below the forecast, indicating inflation coming down and beating the odds on an October rate hike. The latter started the day at 70% and was cut in half by close. Q2 GDP was also upwardly revised to 2.2% suggesting that the economy is handily absorbing these hikes.  

Stocks dip, 2-year US yield falls after Fed's Williams cools rate hike bets

Stocks dip, 2-year US yield falls after Fed's Williams cools rate hike bets

By Caroline Valetkevitch

Tue September 28, 2026  

As is often the case with the market, things happened today that should have triggered a rally but instead sparked an enormous slump. With the NY Fed prez citing no compelling reasons for another rate hike and the 2-year yield falling, stocks should have gone up. But at least the decline was much worse earlier in the day and most losses were recovered. By noon the Dow was down some 350, the S&P down 30. The afternoon saw a gradual recovery but all three still ended in the red. The comments from the NY prez brought the odds of an October hike down to 50% from 70% this morning.  

Stocks fall; oil prices off highs amid renewed hopes for Middle East negotiations

Stocks fall; oil prices off highs amid renewed hopes for Middle East negotiations

By Caroline Valetkevitch and Amanda Cooper

Mon September 27, 2026  

Friday’s euphoria over progress in the peace talks was short-lived as even that optimism was not enough to overcome the continuing rising oil prices, Treasury yields reaching highs not seen in decades, and now 70% odds of an October rate hike. Thus, the indexes took another big 3-digit plunge today right out the gate and stayed there. The 30-year yield is now at its highest in 22 years, the 10-year in 19 years.  

Wall Street ends higher as investors buy AI stocks; Microsoft rallies

Wall Street ends higher as investors buy AI stocks; Microsoft rallies

By Noel Randewich and Johann M Cherian

Fri September 25, 2026  

For a second day the indexes enjoyed a rising trend with the news of a deal reportedly in progress to phase in the Strait of Hormuz and phase out the U.S. economic and port blockades and maybe the war itself. This news very much bolstered the whole tech sector again with resurgent evidence that investors are putting AI on the front burner again with deals being done and AI expenditures boosting demand for capital goods.  

S&P 500 ends marginally lower as investors focus on US-Iran war

S&P 500 ends marginally lower as investors focus on US-Iran war

By Noel Randewich and Johann M Cherian

Thu September 24, 2026  

Wow, what a rollercoaster today as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia once again pushed up the price of oil to $107/barrel, also continuing to push up the 30-year yield which today reached a 22-year high. All three indexes were way down in the morning, the Dow plunging nearly 400 by noon with the other indexes following suit. Then right around the noon hour, everything shot right back up again almost instantly as Reuters reported that a deal was in the works for a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and for phasing out Trump’s blockades of Iran.