Opening Bell — Stocks Edge Higher as Jobs Report Is Delayed; Oil and Gold Advance

U.S. stocks opened modestly higher Friday as investors weighed a government shutdown that postponed the official September jobs report and looked to private data and sector commentary for direction. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 86.40 points, or 0.19%, to 46,606.1, while the S&P 500 gained 0.21% to 6,729.49 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.23% to 22,896.4 in early trading.

The opening tone was shaped by the unusual absence of the Labor Department’s marquee nonfarm-payrolls release, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics said was delayed amid the suspension of federal services during the shutdown. The agency noted its website is not being updated until operations resume.

In the vacuum, investors scanned alternative gauges. ADP reported that private-sector

Technology shares helped underpin the early climb. A Wedbush note argued the “AI cap ex super cycle” is still building, with more corporate buyers “double down on the AI strategic roadmap,” and predicted the tech bull market could run another two to three years as spending ripples through software, chips and infrastructure. The stance bolstered appetite for growth stocks at the open.

Commodities also pointed to a cautious bid for havens and cyclicals alike. Gold futures gained $30.70 to $3,898.80, while U.S. crude edged up $0.26 to $60.74 in early dealings. The move in bullion aligned with the day’s data void and lingering policy uncertainty tied to the shutdown, even as energy ticked higher.

With the official jobs report sidelined, traders will parse intraday price action and corporate headlines for clues on the path of interest rates and earnings resilience. For now, early gains across the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq suggest investors are inclined to stay invested—albeit with an eye on Washington’s calendar.