Economic Data and Federal Reserve Outlook - Recent economic data has created uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve's future interest rate cuts, with initial jobless claims dropping by 14,000 to a seasonally adjusted 218,000 for the week ended September 20 [10][11] - The U.S. economy grew faster than previously estimated in the second quarter, driven by strong consumer spending and business investment [10][11] - Investor expectations for another 25 basis points cut in the Fed's October meeting have decreased to 83.4%, down from approximately 92% [10][11] Market Performance - Most S&P 500 sectors ended lower, with energy gaining 0.9% and technology increasing by 0.03%, largely due to Intel's shares rising by 8.9% [5][11] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 173.96 points (0.38%) to 45,947.32, the S&P 500 lost 33.25 points (0.50%) to 6,604.72, and the Nasdaq Composite decreased by 113.16 points (0.50%) to 22,384.70 [6][11] - CarMax shares dropped by 20.1% following a report of lower second-quarter profit, while Accenture shares fell by 2.7% despite reporting revenue above expectations [6][11] Investor Sentiment and Future Expectations - Investors are keenly awaiting upcoming quarterly results from companies, particularly as market valuations are considered high after recent record highs [7][11] - There is a mixed sentiment among monetary policymakers regarding the direction of interest rates, with some advocating for accelerated policy easing [8][11] - The upcoming monthly U.S. jobs report is anticipated to be significant for market direction [7][11]