BLS Jobs, Jobless Claims, Walmart Warnings All Up Slightly

Economic Indicators - Non-farm payrolls for September increased by +119K, significantly better than the revised figure of -4K for August, marking a positive trend in job growth [2][3] - The unemployment rate rose by 10 basis points to 4.4%, attributed to an increase in the Labor Force Participation Rate to 62.4% [4] - The private sector contributed +97K jobs, with notable gains in Healthcare (+57K) and Leisure & Hospitality (+47K), while Manufacturing saw a decline of -6K [5] Jobless Claims - Initial Jobless Claims decreased to 220K, which is the lowest level since mid-July and below consensus estimates by 7K, indicating a stable job market [7] - Continuing Claims rose to 1.974 million, approaching the psychologically significant 2 million mark, warranting close observation in the future [9] Corporate Earnings - Walmart reported Q3 earnings of 62 cents, exceeding expectations by a penny, with revenues of $179.5 billion, up 1.33% from estimates [10] - Comparable store sales increased by +4.5%, and Walmart raised its guidance for Q4, reflecting a recovery from previous earnings misses [10][11] Market Sentiment - The positive employment data and corporate earnings reports have contributed to a favorable market sentiment, with major indexes showing significant gains [1][11]