Stocks endured another bout of whiplash on Friday. The Nasdaq Composite fell as much as 1.9% shortly after the opening bell, extending this week’s turbulence. But in a familiar pattern, opportunistic dip-buyers stepped in, especially those who have spent the week questioning AI valuations.
By the close, the Nasdaq had staged its largest intraday rebound since April 7, finishing up 0.1%.
The S&P 500 nearly erased its morning losses before weakening late in the session to close down 0.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 310 points, or 0.7%.
This week’s swings have unfolded in an information vacuum: little economic data, limited earnings, and growing speculation around both. That changes in the week ahead.
Index Last Change Dow Jones Industrial Average 47,147.48 –0.65% $S&P 500(.SPX)$ 6,734.11 –0.05% $NASDAQ(.IXIC)$ 22,900.59 +0.13% $NVIDIA(NVDA)$ $Tesla Motors(TSLA)$ $Palantir Technologies Inc.(PLTR)$
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Hot Stock: DoorDash +6.0%
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Biggest Loser: Solstice Advanced Materials –4.8%
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Best Sector: Energy +1.7%
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Worst Sector: $Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund(XLF)$ –1.0%
What’s Next: Data and Earnings Return
Fedspeak
The data pipeline, frozen for more than a month during the shutdown, will finally begin to thaw.
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced it will release the September jobs report next Thursday.
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October data remains uncertain, with the White House suggesting the CPI and jobs report might never be published, a claim economists broadly dispute.
More real-time economic signals arrive as well:
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FOMC minutes (Wednesday)
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Housing starts from the Census Bureau (Thursday)
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S&P Global Manufacturing and Services PMIs (Friday)
On the corporate side, next week will be one of the most influential stretches of earnings season…
Big Tech Spotlight
Nvidia, often referred to as “the most important stock on Earth,” reports Wednesday. As both the AI bellwether and the world’s most valuable company, its commentary on demand, supply constraints, and capital spending will be crucial.
Retail Heavyweights
A major read on the U.S. consumer is coming:
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Home Depot Tuesday
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Lowe’s Wednesday
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Target Wednesday
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Walmart Thursday
This wave of earnings will offer clarity on holiday spending, pricing power, and the broader health of household demand heading into year-end.
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This summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Investors should conduct their own research before making investment decisions.
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