Core Viewpoint - Stocks have continued their upward trend, reaching new record intraday highs despite the ongoing U.S. government shutdown [1][2]. Market Performance - The Dow is up 369.12 points (0.8%) at 46,888.84, the S&P 500 is up 27.83 points (0.4%) at 6,743.18, and the Nasdaq is up 46.63 points (0.2%) at 22,890.68 [2]. - The upward momentum in stocks persists, with major averages achieving new record highs [2]. Economic Concerns - Traders appear to be dismissing concerns regarding the economic impact of the government shutdown, despite warnings from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about potential negative effects on U.S. economic growth [3]. - The shutdown has delayed key U.S. economic data, including the monthly jobs report, but weak data from non-government sources may bolster confidence in continued interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [3]. Employment and Economic Indicators - The ADP report indicated an unexpected decrease in private sector employment, while the Institute for Supply Management reported a larger-than-expected decline in service sector activity, with the services PMI falling to 50.0 in September from 52.0 in August [4]. - Economists had anticipated the index to decrease to 51.7, indicating a more significant contraction than expected [4]. Federal Reserve Outlook - The CME Group's FedWatch Tool shows a 97.8% probability of a quarter-point rate cut by the Fed in October and an 85.8% chance of another cut in December [5]. Sector Performance - Computer hardware stocks are performing strongly, with the NYSE Arca Computer Hardware Index rising by 2.4% to a record intraday high [6]. - Healthcare stocks are also showing strength, with the Dow Jones U.S. Health Care Index gaining 1.6% and reaching its best intraday level in nearly seven months [6]. - Pharmaceutical, utilities, and transportation stocks are experiencing notable gains, contributing to the overall positive market trend [7]. International Markets - In the Asia-Pacific region, stock performance was mixed, with Japan's Nikkei 225 Index up 1.9% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index down 0.5% [8]. - European stocks mostly moved higher, with the U.K.'s FTSE 100 Index up 0.6% and the French CAC 40 Index up 0.2%, while the German DAX Index edged down by 0.1% [8]. Bond Market - Treasuries have declined after a modest increase in the previous session, with the yield on the benchmark ten-year note rising by 2.3 basis points to 4.113% [9].