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Wall Street ended higher on Friday as market participants assessed the weaker-than-expected labor market data and monetary policy expectations. The Nasdaq Composite, the Dow and the S&P 500 ended in positive territory. However, last week, these indexes also finished mixed.
How Did the Benchmarks Perform?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) rose 0.5%, or 250.40 points, to close at 51,176.96. Eighteen components of the 30-stock index ended in positive territory, 11 ended in negative territory, and one remained unchanged. The Dow's major gainer was Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO - Free Report) . The stock price of this technology company rose 3.6%. Cisco currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.2% to close at 27,190.86.
The S&P 500 gained 0.7% to end at 7,722.72. Out of the 11 broad sectors of the broad-market index, 10 ended in positive territory, while one was in negative territory. The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY), the Information Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) and the Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) rose 1.4%, 1.1% and 1%, respectively, while the Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) fell 0.04%.
The fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), decreased by 6.6% to 15.31. A total of 16.93 billion shares were traded on Friday, lower than the last 20-session average of 17.28 billion. The S&P 500 posted 11 new 52-week highs and 20 new lows, and the Nasdaq Composite recorded 57 new highs and 224 new lows.
Weak Jobs Growth Puts Focus on Fed Rates
The Department of Labor reported that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 29,000 in September, significantly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 79,000. July payrolls were revised to a decline of 10,000 from the previously reported gain of 21,000.
The unemployment rate rose to 4.2% in September from 4.1% in August. The labor force participation rate edged up to 61.8%, while the employment-population ratio increased to 59.2%.
Average hourly earnings increased 0.1% sequentially and 3% year over year to $37.81 in September. The average workweek remained unchanged at 34.4 hours.
Following the weaker-than-expected jobs report, CME FedWatch showed a 77.9% probability that the federal funds rate would remain in the 3.75%-4.00% range.
Weekly Roundup
U.S. stocks ended the week mixed: the S&P 500 declined 0.3%, the Nasdaq gained 0.5%, and the Dow slipped 1.3%.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Stock Market News for Oct 5, 2026
Wall Street ended higher on Friday as market participants assessed the weaker-than-expected labor market data and monetary policy expectations. The Nasdaq Composite, the Dow and the S&P 500 ended in positive territory. However, last week, these indexes also finished mixed.
How Did the Benchmarks Perform?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) rose 0.5%, or 250.40 points, to close at 51,176.96. Eighteen components of the 30-stock index ended in positive territory, 11 ended in negative territory, and one remained unchanged. The Dow's major gainer was Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO - Free Report) . The stock price of this technology company rose 3.6%. Cisco currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.2% to close at 27,190.86.
The S&P 500 gained 0.7% to end at 7,722.72. Out of the 11 broad sectors of the broad-market index, 10 ended in positive territory, while one was in negative territory. The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (XLY), the Information Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK) and the Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) rose 1.4%, 1.1% and 1%, respectively, while the Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) fell 0.04%.
The fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), decreased by 6.6% to 15.31. A total of 16.93 billion shares were traded on Friday, lower than the last 20-session average of 17.28 billion. The S&P 500 posted 11 new 52-week highs and 20 new lows, and the Nasdaq Composite recorded 57 new highs and 224 new lows.
Weak Jobs Growth Puts Focus on Fed Rates
The Department of Labor reported that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 29,000 in September, significantly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 79,000. July payrolls were revised to a decline of 10,000 from the previously reported gain of 21,000.
The unemployment rate rose to 4.2% in September from 4.1% in August. The labor force participation rate edged up to 61.8%, while the employment-population ratio increased to 59.2%.
Average hourly earnings increased 0.1% sequentially and 3% year over year to $37.81 in September. The average workweek remained unchanged at 34.4 hours.
Following the weaker-than-expected jobs report, CME FedWatch showed a 77.9% probability that the federal funds rate would remain in the 3.75%-4.00% range.
Weekly Roundup
U.S. stocks ended the week mixed: the S&P 500 declined 0.3%, the Nasdaq gained 0.5%, and the Dow slipped 1.3%.