S&P 500 heads for first fall in 8 days - top reasons for the downfall

Economic Environment - The U.S. government shutdown is impacting investor confidence and delaying key economic data, including the September jobs report, which showed a low job growth of 17,000 compared to 22,000 in August [5][9] - The shutdown has led to increased interest in safe-haven assets like gold, which reached $4,000 per ounce for the first time, reflecting economic uncertainty [4][11] - Goldman Sachs vice chairman Robert Kaplan highlighted that gold's rise of nearly 40% year-to-date serves as a warning signal for investors [5][11] Market Reactions - Investors are moving towards safe-haven assets due to the government shutdown, with gold prices surging [4][11] - The S&P 500 fell 0.4% after eight consecutive days of gains, driven by weak Oracle shares and concerns over AI profits [11] - JPMorgan downgraded several consumer finance stocks, including OneMain and Synchrony Financial, to neutral due to weakening macroeconomic conditions [6][11] Company-Specific Developments - Trilogy Metals shares surged over 200% following a $35.6 million investment from the White House, making it a 10% shareholder aimed at unlocking domestic supplies of copper and critical minerals in Alaska [12] - Constellation Brands reported earnings that beat estimates, with revenue of $2.48 billion and adjusted earnings of $3.63 per share, leading to a premarket share increase of over 3% [9][12] - Aehr Test Systems experienced a significant drop of nearly 20% after reporting a year-over-year revenue decline and providing no guidance [12]