Stock market today: S&P 500, Nasdaq climb as Dow wavers with government shutdown in focus

Market Overview - US stocks experienced a mixed performance, with the S&P 500 increasing by 0.2% and the Nasdaq Composite rising nearly 0.5%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by around 0.2% [1] Government Shutdown Concerns - The market is closely monitoring the potential for a US government shutdown, with over 80% odds of occurrence as assessed by Polymarket, stemming from a standoff between Republicans and Democrats [2] - A meeting between President Trump and congressional leaders is anticipated as a critical moment to avert a federal funding halt [2] Economic Data Impact - The Department of Labor announced that the Bureau of Labor Statistics will "suspend all operations" during a government shutdown, meaning key economic data, including the monthly jobs report, will not be released [3] - The monthly job updates and inflation reports from the BLS are crucial for Federal Reserve policy decisions, influencing market expectations regarding interest rate cuts [4] Job Market Insights - Recent economic indicators showed a decline in jobless claims and an upward revision in GDP growth, leading to speculation that the Federal Reserve may not implement aggressive rate cuts [5] - Forecasts suggest nonfarm payrolls increased by 43,000, with the unemployment rate remaining at 4.3% for the month [5] Stock Performance and Tariff Announcements - Despite a challenging week for AI-focused stocks and new tariff announcements from President Trump, the market is on track to finish September and the third quarter with gains, with the S&P 500 up 2.8% month-to-date, the Dow up 1.5%, and the Nasdaq up 2.9% [6]