Markets Slide as Fed Signals Caution and Tech Rally Unwinds Ahead of Delayed Data Dump

Stocks tumbled Thursday as hawkish Fed rhetoric and a looming flood of delayed economic data unsettled investors. A post-shutdown optimism hangover and valuation concerns sparked a broad retreat, with high-flying tech names bearing the brunt. Defensive rotation gained traction as traders looked for safer ground ahead of an uncertain data window. The Nasdaq slid over 2%, and the S&P 500 notched its third 1%+ loss in two weeks. Treasury yields rose while the dollar weakened. Bitcoin slipped back below $100,000.

Key Headlines & Market Movers:

• Fed Rhetoric Cools Rate Cut Hopes: Multiple Fed officials struck a cautious tone, dampening expectations for a December rate cut. St. Louis Fed's Musalem and Cleveland's Hammack both signaled the need for restrictive policy amid sticky inflation, while Minneapolis’s Kashkari questioned the need for the last cut entirely. With missing October data due to the shutdown, the path forward has become murkier. Market-implied odds for a December cut have now dropped below 50%.

Tech Pullback Spurs Defensive Rotation: Mega-cap tech stocks led the selloff, with names like Nvidia, Tesla, and Palantir down sharply. Some investors see this as overdue profit-taking after a stretch of AI-fueled gains. Analysts note growing insider selling and a shift toward sectors like industrials, energy, and healthcare. While painful short term, several strategists view the rotation as a healthy broadening of market leadership.

Shutdown Fallout Leaves Data Void: Although the shutdown has officially ended, a return to normal data collection is likely weeks away. Key economic figures, such as inflation and employment, are delayed or incomplete. This data blackout complicates the Fed’s decision-making and adds a layer of volatility for investors who now must navigate markets with reduced visibility.

Earnings Moves and Corporate Highlights: Cisco jumped after raising its 2026 outlook, signaling traction in AI-driven infrastructure. Disney fell nearly 8% on disappointing sales and film slate concerns. Firefly Aerospace popped 17% on strong results. Meanwhile, Sealed Air surged on reports of a potential buyout, and Starbucks faced labor disruptions on a key sales day. Verizon is reportedly preparing significant job cuts as part of a strategic overhaul.

S&P 500 Sector Performance

Looking Ahead

Markets are bracing for a wave of economic data releases, albeit delayed and possibly incomplete. With Fed policymakers divided and investor sentiment fragile, the next few weeks could bring choppy trading. Near-term focus remains on inflation trends, labor market resilience, and next week's Nvidia earnings: a potential bellwether for the broader tech rebound. In this data-sparse environment, flexibility and selective positioning will be key.

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