Stock Market Today: Stocks Rise As Gov't Shutdown Looms Over Markets

Market Overview - U.S. markets opened higher despite risks of a government shutdown, with the Russell 2000 up by 0.97%, Nasdaq by 0.58%, and S&P 500 by 0.23% [1] - Crude oil prices decreased by 2.5%, while gold prices increased by 1% [2] S&P 500 Outlook - Bank of America (BAC) and Bank of Montreal (BMO) have provided bullish forecasts for the S&P 500, with BMO predicting the index will reach 7,000 by the end of 2025, representing a 5.36% increase from the current level of 6,643.70 [3] - Bank of America anticipates the S&P 500 will hit 7,200 in 12 months, citing strong earnings guidance and the ability of companies to meet high valuations [3] Equity Futures - U.S. equity futures indicated a positive start to the week, with all major benchmarks showing gains, led by Russell 2000 and Nasdaq Composite [4] Quarterly Performance - The third quarter has seen significant market movements, with all four major indexes reaching record highs, including a 16% year-to-date increase for the Nasdaq and a 12.8% increase for the S&P 500 [6]