The S&P 500 index edged up 0.2% last week as a Friday climb on stronger-than-expected September jobs data helped outweigh an otherwise cautious start to October. It marked the index’s fourth consecutive weekly gain.
On Monday, the S&P 500 closed out September with a 2% increase for the month and a 5.5% gain for Q3. The index is now up nearly 21% for the year.
Hopes that Federal Reserve officials would cut rates in September helped fuel much of the S&P 500’s gains in Q3. Now that the cut has been made, investors are looking to economic data and corporate results for signs of what Fed officials may do at their November meeting.
September’s jobs data came in better than expected. Total nonfarm payrolls rose 254,000 last month, surpassing the consensus estimate for a 150,000 increase, according to a survey compiled by Bloomberg. The unemployment rate declined to 4.1% from August’s 4.2%. Analysts had expected the rate to remain unchanged month-to-month.
Sectors were mixed as energy jumped 7%, followed by a 2.2% climb in communication services, a 1.1% rise in utilities and a 1% increase in financials. Industrials and technology also edged higher.
On the downside, materials had the largest percentage drop, shedding 2%, followed by a 1.9% decline in real estate. Other decliners included consumer staples, consumer discretionary and health care.
Quarterly earnings are set to kick off this week. PepsiCo, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Progressive will be among those releasing financial results.
Economic data will include the September consumer price index and the producer price index, both of which are closely watched measures of inflation.
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