During a pivotal moment in U.S. fiscal policy, President Donald Trump convened with congressional leaders at the White House as the New York Stock Exchange’s closing bell echoed through Wall Street. Anticipation builds as a major retailer is set to reveal its latest financial results tomorrow. However, looming over the discussions is a critical budget impasse—if an agreement isn’t reached by Tuesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is poised to withhold the September jobs report, usually released every Friday.
The White House has begun preparations for a possible government shutdown, expected to start at 12:01 AM Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday. This impending situation raises concerns among investors regarding the broader implications for the stock market.
Adam Turnquist, Chief Technical Strategist at LPL Financial, commented on the market’s response to government shutdowns, stating, “They introduce a new layer of uncertainty, but fortunately, they tend to be short-lived and, as a result, have had minimal impact on the economy.” He pointed out that while investors generally overlook budget-related disruptions, they are recommended to be wary of industries with significant dependency on government contracts, such as aerospace, defense, and biotech. According to Turnquist, these sectors might experience short-term setbacks due to funding uncertainty but typically rebound once government spending resumes.
On a broader scale, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) showed a decline of 0.2% to 97.93, marking an 11.1% drop since reaching a peak in January. On Monday, the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.5% to 22,591. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% to 6,661, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.2% to 46,316.
Among the leading stocks, Nvidia (NVDA) surged 2.1%, nearing a new intraday high after securing significant agreements with OpenAI, Alibaba, and Microsoft. The tech giant has seen its shares rise over 35% thus far in 2025, fueled by the soaring demand for AI infrastructure. In contrast, Chevron (CVX) fell 2.6%, with the energy sector lagging due to reports that OPEC+ plans to up crude oil production, which resulted in a 3.9% decline in crude oil prices.
Nike (NKE), which remained relatively steady on Monday, has noticeably rebounded by more than 30% since hitting a low earlier this year. Analyst Peter McGoldrick emphasized the need for the brand’s management to innovate and replenish its product pipeline to boost demand.
In IPO news, Fermi has announced plans to offer 25 million shares, with pricing anticipated between $18 and $22 per share. Named after famed physicist Enrico Fermi, the company aims to construct four nuclear power plants and new natural gas facilities, contributing to 11 gigawatts of electricity generation by 2038. Notably, one of the plants is to be named the “Donald J. Trump Generating Plant.”
Meanwhile, Electronic Arts (EA) is being acquired in a substantial all-cash deal, valuing the video game company at approximately $55 billion. The consortium financing the purchase, which includes Silver Lake and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, is offering a 25% premium over EA’s last closing price.
Finally, the threat of a government shutdown casts a shadow on upcoming economic indicators; the BLS’s potential closure signifies the first major impact of stalled federal funding. According to a contingency plan from the Labor Department, the BLS will remain shuttered until government funding resumes, raising alarm among economists about the data void that may follow.
