Ah, the stock market. A bastion of rational thought, predictable trends, and calm, measured reactions. Or, at least, that’s what the textbooks tell us. In the era of Donald J. Trump, however, the market often resembles a particularly caffeinated squirrel navigating a minefield of Truth Social posts and impromptu policy pronouncements. Investors, it seems, have learned to strap in, brace for impact, and perhaps keep a bottle of antacids handy. The latest round of tariff threats, trade talks, and pharmaceutic ...

Market Overview - The S&P 500 is up more than 2% for the month, bucking typical September seasonality trends [10][11] - Major indices opened with slight gains, with the Dow up about 0.4% and the NASDAQ flat [3][4] - PCE inflation rose 2.7% year-over-year in August, slightly above July's 2.6%, leaving the door open for potential rate cuts in October [10][11] Company Insights: Costco - Costco's stock is down nearly 4% at the open, following a price target cut from JP Morgan to $150 from $160 [5][6] - Year-to-date, Costco is down more than 1%, contrasting with Walmart's over 10% increase [7] - Despite optimism for Costco to beat Wall Street expectations, the stock's performance has struggled to impress investors [5][6] Oil Market - Crude oil prices are modestly higher, up about 0.4%, following OPEC+'s agreement to increase production in November [8] - Year-to-date, crude oil is down nearly 11% [8] Trade and Tariffs - New tariffs effective October 1st include a 100% tariff on some imported drugs and 50% on kitchen cabinets [11][12] - The pharmaceutical sector's reaction to new tariffs is muted, as many companies already have manufacturing plants in the U.S. [24][25] Healthcare Sector - The healthcare sector has underperformed, down 2% over the last year, while technology and communication services have risen over 66% [26] - Wall Street is cautious about the healthcare sector due to pressures from Washington and pricing targets set by the Trump administration [28] Company Insights: Better.com - Better.com has seen a nearly 75% increase in stock price in the last week, attributed to retail investor interest [33] - The company reported a 25% year-over-year increase in funded loan volume, reaching $1.2 billion [46] - Better.com aims to achieve profitability by Q3 2026, leveraging AI to improve efficiency and customer experience [34][47]

The chairman of China’s biggest home furnishing retailer has died amid an investigation by authorities and as his company endures a protracted slump caused by the sluggish property market https://t.co/KIXmQgQRqn ...