Stocks and Markets

U. S. stocks rose last week. Banks kicked off the third-quarter earnings season with robust results while inflation data soothed investors’ fears.

The S&P 500 rose 0.8% last week. The U. S. Senate agreed to extend the U. S. debt ceiling until December, while job creation in September disappointed.

Stocks declined a second straight week due to concerns of higher taxes, mixed economic data, and caution ahead of the FOMC meeting this week.

Weighed by inflation and growth concerns, U. S. stocks fell on every day of the short trading week. The S&P 500 ended the week 1.7% lower.

U. S. stocks closed the week fractionally short of a record high after job creation in August fell short of economists’ forecast by a sizeable margin.

U. S. stocks closed the week at a new high after Fed Chairman Powell stressed interest rates would not automatically rise after bond purchases end.

U. S. stocks ended the week lower on fears over the spread of the coronavirus delta variant and the imminent tapering of Federal Reserve bond buying.

U. S. stocks set new highs. The passage of the infrastructure bill and data showing moderating inflation offset the sharp drop in consumer sentiment.