S&P 500 ends slightly down as investors await Fed

Market Overview - The Federal Reserve began a two-day policy meeting with expectations of a quarter-percentage point rate cut despite inflation remaining above the 2% target [1][11] - Traders are pricing in an approximately 87% chance of a 25-basis-point rate cut, but there is an expectation of a pause in future cuts [5][11] - The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield increased to 4.18%, marking its fourth consecutive day of gains, which has contributed to a stall in equity rallies [6][11] Labor Market Insights - The Labor Department reported a slight increase in job openings in October, but hiring remained subdued [2][11] - A report from the National Federation of Independent Business indicated that companies are planning to create new jobs in the near future [2][11] Company-Specific Developments - JPMorgan Chase's consumer banking chief projected expenses to rise to about $105 billion by 2026, leading to a 4.7% drop in its shares, the largest one-day percentage decline since April 4 [7][11] - AutoZone shares fell by 7.2% after quarterly results missed estimates, while Campbell's shares dropped 5.2% due to selective price increases to counter higher costs [9][11] Sector Performance - Among the 11 S&P 500 sectors, five experienced losses, with energy being the biggest gainer at 0.7% and healthcare the largest loser, down nearly 1% [8][11] - The S&P 500 bank index fell by 2% after initially rising nearly 1% earlier in the day [7][11] Trading Activity - Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the NYSE by a ratio of 1.14-to-1, with 209 new highs and 56 new lows recorded [10][11] - On the Nasdaq, 2,642 stocks rose while 2,137 fell, resulting in a 1.24-to-1 ratio of advancing to declining issues [10][11]