U.S. stocks continued to move higher in September, with the S&P 500 securing its fifth consecutive monthly gain. The month began with the biggest weekly pullback of the year as private payroll data revealed the weakest growth since 2021, fueling concerns over the labor market. However, sentiment shifted after the Federal Reserve delivered a more aggressive interest cut at the September FOMC meeting. Despite potential volatility from present geopolitical risks and the upcoming U.S. presidential election, the Fed remains cautiously optimistic about achieving a soft economic landing for now.
