Market Close — Stocks Edge Higher as Confidence Slips; Oil Falls, Gold Climbs

U.S. stocks finished modestly higher Tuesday as investors weighed softer consumer sentiment and steady job-openings data against a brewing budget standoff in Washington. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 81.76 points to 46,397.8 (+0.18%), while the S&P 500 rose 27.22 to 6,688.43 (+0.41%). The Nasdaq Composite advanced 68.86 to 22,660.0 (+0.30%).

The move came despite a downbeat read on the consumer. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell to 94.2 in September from 97.8, with current conditions and expectations both easing. “Consumer confidence weakened in September, declining to the lowest level since April 2025,” said Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist, Global Indicators at The Conference Board, noting that views on job availability have deteriorated in recent months.

Labor demand, meanwhile, showed little change. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported job openings were unchanged at 7.2 million in August, with hires and total separations steady at 5.1 million apiece. A steady JOLTS print, alongside weaker confidence, left investors parsing a picture of cooling but still-moving labor dynamics.

Policy risk hovered over the tape. As funding deadlines approach, a shutdown would halt critical economic data releases, complicating the Federal Reserve’s read on growth and inflation. In the latest political back-and-forth, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said, “It’s in the president’s hands,” underscoring the uncertainty that has the potential to spill into markets if a lapse in funding freezes reports from agencies like the BLS.

Commodities reflected a mild risk-off tone in energy and a bid for hedges. U.S. crude oil (Nov ’25) slipped 1.43% to $62.54, while gold (Dec ’25) climbed 0.73% to $3,883.40. The drop in oil—often sensitive to growth expectations—contrasted with bullion’s gain, which can benefit when investors seek safety or reassess the interest-rate path.

All told, Tuesday’s advance was measured, with the S&P 500 leading major averages. The day’s data and fiscal headlines kept attention on the consumer and on Washington—two variables likely to set the tone into quarter-end as investors gauge whether softer sentiment and a potential data blackout will challenge the market’s recent resilience.