S&P 500 Settles At Record High Despite Government Shutdown: Investor Sentiment Improves, Fear & Greed Index Remains In 'Neutral' Zone

Market Sentiment - The CNN Money Fear and Greed index improved to a reading of 50.9, remaining in the "Neutral" zone, up from 50.3 [4] - U.S. stocks closed higher, with the S&P 500 reaching a new record high, indicating positive investor sentiment despite government shutdown concerns [1] Company Performance - Nvidia Corp. saw a 1% increase, raising its market capitalization to a record $4.6 trillion, marking its sixth consecutive winning session [1] - Advanced Micro Devices Inc. surged 3.5% following reports that Intel Corp. may add AMD as a foundry customer, while Intel advanced 2.2%, aiming for its highest close since April 2024 [2] Sector Performance - Most sectors in the S&P 500 closed negatively, with energy, consumer discretionary, and real estate stocks experiencing the largest losses [3] - Conversely, materials and information technology sectors closed higher, indicating a divergence in sector performance [3] Economic Indicators - U.S.-based employers announced 54,064 job cuts in September, a decrease from 85,979 in August, suggesting a potential improvement in the labor market [2]