September 2025 Begins with Mixed Results on Wall Street
September 2025 kicked off with volatile trading patterns in the stock markets. Major indices posted mixed results as investors grappled with weak jobs data and anticipated upcoming Federal Reserve policy decisions.
The S&P 500 closed down by 0.32% at 6,481.50, while the Nasdaq declined by 0.03% to 21,700.39. The Dow Jones fell by 220.43 points (0.48%) to 45,400.86. Despite these declines, all three indices managed to reach fresh record intraday highs earlier in the session before retreating.
Key Market Drivers
- The August jobs report showed a disappointing addition of only 22,000 new positions, falling well below the 75,000 expected by economists.
- Expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut solidified, with CME’s FedWatch Tool indicating a 96.6% probability of a quarter-point cut at the September 16-17 meeting.
- Broadcom emerged as a standout performer, surging 9.4% after exceeding quarterly expectations.
Historically, September represents the worst month for stocks, with the S&P 500 averaging a 0.7% decline since 1950. Recent years have seen even steeper drops, with the index falling an average of 4.2% over the past five September periods.
Source: CNBC Markets