Dow, Nasdaq Futures Climb, Gold Soars As Investors Brush Off Looming Shutdown — But Economists Warn Costly 'Data Blackout' Could Skew Outlook - Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:QQQ), SPDR Dow Jones

Core Viewpoint - U.S. stock market futures are rising despite an 83% probability of a government shutdown, with investors focusing on limited immediate financial fallout while being wary of a potential data blackout that could obscure economic indicators [1][2][3]. Market Reaction - As of early Monday, Dow Jones futures increased by 127 points (0.27%), Nasdaq 100 futures rose by 108 points (0.44%), and S&P 500 futures gained 0.34% [2]. - Gold reached a new all-time high of $3,815.28 per ounce, reflecting positive market sentiment [2][7]. Impact of Government Shutdown - The primary concern for financial markets is not the shutdown itself but the suspension of government services that produce essential economic statistics, leading to a "data blackout" [3][4]. - A prolonged shutdown could significantly impact the release of critical reports, such as the September unemployment and payroll report, scheduled for October 3 [4][5]. Economic Outlook - The absence of timely economic data could complicate decision-making for the Federal Reserve and investors, as it would hinder assessments of inflation, employment, and growth [5]. - Historical context indicates that the longest government shutdown lasted 35 days, highlighting the potential for significant economic disruption if the current situation persists [5].