U.S. stock futures were fluctuating on Thursday following Wednesday’s record advances. Futures of major benchmark indices were mixed.The Donald Trump administration has reportedly warned that the shutdown could cut $15 billion from weekly GDP and leave 43,000 more people jobless if it lasts a month. After the Senate rejected competing government funding bills from both Republicans and Democrats on Wednesday, the next opportunity to hold a vote will be on Friday. The chamber will be out on Thursday in observ ...

Core Viewpoint - Investors are highly confident that the Federal Reserve will implement interest rate cuts in October, which is expected to have a positive impact on the cryptocurrency market [1] Group 1 - The anticipation of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve is leading to increased optimism among investors [1] - A reduction in interest rates is likely to enhance the attractiveness of cryptocurrencies as an investment option [1]

Slowing inflation and an appreciating currency provide Egypt with the scope to squeeze in its fourth interest-rate cut of the year before a possible hike in fuel prices spurs fresh caution https://t.co/Eiy8VrgySw ...

Private payrolls dropped by the most in two and half years — a surprise dip that comes ahead of the Federal Reserve’s decision on whether to cut interest rates later this month as a government shutdown looks poised to halt the release of key economic data.Payrolls at US companies declined by 32,000 in September, far below estimates of 50,000 added jobs in the latest sign of labor market weakness, according to an ADP report released Wednesday.It was the biggest slide in private payroll growth since March 202 ...

ToplineGold prices surged to record highs on Wednesday, following a rally for bitcoin in recent days as investors appeared to search for a safe haven in the wake of the first government shutdown in nearly seven years, though economists noted the broader economic impact could be minimal. Investors appeared to search for an economic haven as a government shutdown posed uncertainty—with bitcoin viewed as less risky following record highs it has notched under the Trump administration.Copyright 2017 The Associat ...

US MBA mortgage applications fell -12.7% in the week ended September 26, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -1.0% and the refinancing sub-index down -20.6%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose +12 bp to 6.46% from 6.34% in the prior week.However, stock indexes recovered from their worst levels after the Sep ISM manufacturing index rose more than expected to a 7-month high. Also, a rally in pharmaceutical stocks for a second day gave a boost to the broader market and lifted the Dow Jones Indu ...

Economic Indicators - The ADP Research report indicated that US private employers cut 32,000 jobs in September, with the Midwest experiencing the largest losses [4][6] - The August employment figure was revised down to a loss of 3,000 jobs from a previously reported gain of 54,000 [4][6] - Analysts noted that the ADP survey has a smaller sample size compared to the government's monthly jobs report, which may affect its accuracy [4][6] Market Reactions - Treasury yields fell sharply, with the 10-year Treasury yield dropping to 4.09% from 4.16% and the two-year yield falling to 3.53% from 3.60% [5][6] - The S&P 500 fell 0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 51 points (0.1%), and the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.4% [5][6] Company Performance - Cal-Maine Foods saw a 2.6% decline in stock price after reporting quarterly profits and revenues below analyst expectations, despite achieving its strongest-ever first quarter [5][6] - Nike's stock rose by 4.7% after surpassing profit estimates, driven by strong North American apparel sales [5][6] - Lithium Americas surged 22.5% after the US Department of Energy approved access to a $2.26 billion loan in exchange for an ownership stake [5][6] International Markets - International markets showed mixed performance, with European indexes rising following a varied session in Asia [5]

Core Insights - Employment in the U.S. private sector declined by 32,000 jobs in September, indicating a faster-than-expected cooling of the job market [2][5] - This decline is the largest since March 2023 and is significantly below the Dow Jones consensus of an increase of 45,000 jobs [2][3] Employment Trends - Job losses were widespread across various industries, with notable declines in leisure and hospitality (19,000 jobs), professional and business services (13,000), transportation and utilities (7,000), and construction (5,000) [3] - Education and health services added 33,000 jobs, but overall job losses overshadowed this gain [3] Data Integrity Concerns - ADP reported a higher-than-normal number of missing or redacted values in the data set received from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which affected the granularity of the benchmark calculations [4] - The preliminary estimate from the QCEW suggested a record decline of 911,000 jobs over the 12 months ending in March [4] Federal Reserve Implications - The ADP report may be the last jobs data available to the Federal Reserve before its next meeting on October 28, with expectations of the unemployment rate remaining at 4.3% [5] - The Fed has indicated a weakening labor market, with rising unemployment and inflation above the 2% target influencing recent interest rate cuts [6] Consumer Sentiment - Consumer confidence regarding job availability has declined, with only 26.9% of consumers finding jobs to be "plentiful," the lowest since February 2021 [6] - There has been a significant drop in Americans' views of their current financial situation, marking the largest monthly decline since data collection began in 2022 [6]

The Federal Reserve Board made a small, quarter percent cut to the interest rate this week but signaled more cuts may be coming. Rate cuts can be good for taking on loans, but a mixed bag for investments. Learn More: Here’s Why You Might Want to Invest Your Retirement Savings in a Roth 401(k) Read Next: 5 Types of Cars Retirees Should Stay Away From Buying Christopher Stroup, a CFP and owner of Silicon Beach Financial, explained what this and future cuts might mean for your investments — time to dig in de ...

Geopolitical Developments & Market Impact - A 20-point proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, agreed upon by U S President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, awaits Hamas approval, potentially impacting regional stability and oil markets [1][5][38] - Qatar's role as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas is crucial for the ceasefire, requiring a face-saving gesture, such as Israel expressing regret for a past attack [8][9][10] - The Israeli Shekel has strengthened against the USD by approximately 10% this year, reflecting the impact of geopolitical developments on local markets [46] - RBA (澳大利亚储备银行) holds cash rate at 36%, notes uncertainties in global environment and upside risks to inflation [40][41][42][43] Economic & Financial Market Trends - Looming U S government shutdown raises market risk, potentially delaying crucial jobs data release and impacting monetary policy assessment [2][3][23][25][44] - Gold hits record highs, massively outperforming Bitcoin, driven by uncertainty and a pullback in USD, with potential for further gains amid Fed rate cuts [3][4][23][32][33][44] - The market has aggressively priced in 3-4 rate cuts by June 2026, making upcoming jobs market data pivotal for determining monetary policy [27] - Potential tariffs on imports of timber and lumber, particularly impacting Canada, add to market uncertainty [23][39] - MSCI China is logging five-month gains, the longest streak since 2018, driven by better-than-expected PMI data and geopolitical signals [48] Energy Sector - Brent crude oil is slipping down by 08% ahead of the OPEC Plus meeting, where increased supply is expected [4] - The oil market is bearish due to well-supplied conditions, with focus on Iran snapback and Russia-Ukraine conflict, leading to investment in gold over oil [52][53] - Afentra is cautious about oil price volatility, focusing on a strong balance sheet and strategic acquisitions [64][65][66] - Nigeria's government intervenes to resolve a clash between the petroleum and natural gas association and oil labor group, potentially impacting crude production of 650 thousand barrels a day [76][77][78]