This Week’s Must-Know Information

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Stocks Surge as S&P 500 Hits Record Highs Amid Signs of Cooling Inflation and Resilient Economic Growth

Stocks drifted higher over the past week, with the S&P 500 notching several record closes as investors digested more signs of cooling inflation amid resilient economic growth data. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average were up about 0.7% for the week, while the Nasdaq Composite popped nearly 1%.

Looking ahead, the September jobs report is expected to provide further clues on how quickly the labor market is cooling. Updates on job openings, activity in the services and manufacturing sectors, and consumer confidence are also on the calendar.

On a company level, a deliveries update from Tesla and quarterly results from Nike will be in focus.

The most recent reading of the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge showed price increases continue to cool toward the Fed’s 2% goal, putting further focus on the Fed’s other mandate: maximum employment. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell mentioned that the labor market is currently in “solid condition” and the central bank is cutting interest rates to keep it that way.

However, there has been a clear slowdown in the labor market. The unemployment rate sits at 4.2%, near its highest level in almost three years, and job gains have slowed. The pressing question as the release of the September jobs report approaches is just how quickly this slowdown is taking place.

Consensus expectations point to more signs of a gradual cooling rather than a rapid slowdown. The September jobs report is expected to show 130,000 nonfarm payroll jobs were added to the US economy, with unemployment holding steady at 4.2%.

In the week ahead, Tesla is expected to announce its third-quarter delivery numbers, while Nike is set to report its fiscal first-quarter earnings. Investors will be looking for growth opportunities in the market, especially after the Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cut.

Overall, the focus remains on the labor market data and how it impacts the broader economy. Investors will be closely watching the upcoming economic reports and company earnings to gauge the health of the market and potential investment opportunities.