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Stock Market News for Sep 30, 2026

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U.S. stock markets closed lower on Tuesday after a choppy session registering back-to-back declines. Yields on U.S. government bonds continue to spike despite a slide in crude oil prices. Economic data released yesterday were also weak. All three major stock indexes ended in negative territory. 

How Did the Benchmarks Perform?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) fell 0.3% or 131.59 points to close at 51,349.92. Notably, 21 components of the 30-stock index ended in negative territory, eight ended in positive territory and one remained unchanged. At the intraday low, the blue-chip index was down 352.33 points.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ended at 26,797.54, sliding 0.1% on weak performance by technology bigwigs. At the intraday low, the index was down 102.43 points. The major loser of the tech-laden index was Rocket Lab Corp. (RKLB - Free Report) . The stock price of the aerospace defense equipment manufacturer tumbled 3.5%. Rocket Lab currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The S&P 500 declined 0.2% to finish at 7,670.84. Eight out of 11 sectors of the broad-market index ended in negative territory while three finished in positive territory. The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR (XLC), the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY), the Financials Select Sector SPDR (XLF) and the Industrials Select Sector SPDR (XLI) fell 1.6%, 1.4%, 1.2% and 1%, respectively. 

The fear gauge CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.2% to 16.04. A total of 16.15 billion shares were traded on Tuesday, lower than the last 20-session average of 16.87 billion. Decliners outnumbered advancers by a 1.66-to-1 ratio on the NYSE. On the Nasdaq, a 1.47-to-1 ratio favored advancing issues.

Government Bond Yields Soar

The yield on the benchmark U.S. 10-Year Treasury Note briefly touched 5.253% on Tuesday, marking its highest level since June 15, 2007. The yield on the long-term 30-Year U.S. Treasury Note reached 5.6%, reflecting its highest level since June 2002. The yield on the short-term 2-Year U.S. Treasury Note fell to 4.891%.

Economic Data

The Department of Labor Statistics reported in its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) that job openings in August were down 256,000 to 7.079 million. The metric for July was revised upward to 7.335 million from 7.271 million reported earlier. The job opening rate fell to 4.3% in August from 4.4% in July.

Total hiring was up 46,000 to 5.192 million. The hiring rate rose to 3.3% in August from 3.2% in July. Total layoffs and discharges fell 61,000 to 1.641 million. The layoffs rate fell to 1% in August from 1.1% in July.

The Conference Board reported that the consumer confidence index for September fell to 81.9, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 89.1. The metric for August was revised downward to 88.6 from 89.4 reported earlier. The September reading marked the lowest level in 12 and a half months.

The subindex for Present Situation — based on consumers’ assessment of current business and labor market conditions — fell to 109.3 in September from 117.2 in August. The subindex for Expectations — based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions — fell to 63.6 in September from 69.5 in August.

The S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index increased 1.9% annually in July from 1.6% in June. The 10-City Composite Index rose 3.4% annually in July compared with 3% in June. The 20-City Composite Index rose 2.5% annually in July compared with 2.2% in June.

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