U.S. stocks finished Friday, October 2, higher after a weaker-than-expected September jobs report, but the week as a whole was mixed: the Nasdaq gained 0.5%, while the S&P 500, Dow and Russell 2000 declined. The employment data showed slower hiring alongside low unemployment and continued wage growth, while August inflation and consumer-spending figures offered a separate view of the economy.
How did the major indexes perform this week?
Friday’s rally did not erase the differences in the indexes’ full-week results. Associated Press figures for the week show the Nasdaq gained 0.5%, while the S&P 500 lost 0.3%, the Dow fell 1.3% and the Russell 2000 slipped 0.2%.
| Index | Change for the week |
|---|---|
| Nasdaq | +0.5% |
| S&P 500 | -0.3% |
| Dow | -1.3% |
| Russell 2000 | -0.2% |
These are full-week changes, not Friday-only moves. They also show why a single headline about “the market” can obscure meaningful differences between indexes. The Associated Press weekly market wrap reports the index returns.
Why did stocks rise after the jobs report?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that employers added 29,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in September 2026 and unemployment was 4.2%. Average hourly earnings rose 0.1% from August and 3.0% over the year. The BLS also revised July and August payroll changes down by a combined 60,000. These figures describe different parts of the labor market: hiring slowed, unemployment remained comparatively low, and wages continued to rise.
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MarketBeat framed Friday’s stock advance as a response to weaker payroll growth that softened expectations for a Federal Reserve rate increase in October. Its recap also pointed to lower oil prices and a lower 10-year Treasury yield as factors supporting risk appetite. That is MarketBeat’s explanation of the day’s moves, not proof that the jobs report or any one factor caused the week’s overall performance. Rate expectations are time-sensitive; this framing pertains to October 2, 2026. The employment figures are in the BLS September employment report.
What did inflation and spending data show?
The Bureau of Economic Analysis’s August 2026 Personal Income and Outlays release, available during the week, showed headline personal consumption expenditures (PCE) prices rose 0.3% from July and 3.4% from a year earlier. Core PCE prices, which exclude food and energy, rose 0.2% month over month and 3.0% year over year. Real personal consumption expenditures, adjusted for inflation, increased 0.6% in August.
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Inflation and consumer spending provide context distinct from the September employment report: the PCE figures refer to August, while the payroll and unemployment numbers refer to September. The BEA release does not, by itself, establish what drove stock prices during the week. See the BEA August 2026 Personal Income and Outlays report for the underlying measures.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What company stories did MarketBeat highlight?
MarketBeat’s recap was a collection of stories it selected, not a systematic survey of every company or market theme. Its subjects ranged from individual corporate developments to broader industry topics:
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems- Retail and consumer businesses: CarMax’s fiscal second quarter and planned return to share buybacks; McDonald’s proposed data-driven pricing recommendations for franchisees; Six Flags’ buy-now-pay-later season-pass option and activist pressure; Starbucks closures; O’Reilly Automotive; and First Watch.
- Technology and AI: Deutsche Bank’s Netflix upgrade alongside a lower price target; Apple’s reported $5.7 billion patent verdict; Meta’s Muse AI agent and e-commerce; Broadcom and an Anthropic commitment; and the possibility of an Anthropic IPO.
- Infrastructure, industry and defense: Oracle’s force-majeure notice concerning a data-center project and CoreWeave; Rocket Lab; Taiwan Semiconductor’s 2-nanometer chips; Boeing’s fighter contract; cybersecurity firms; fertilizer stocks; geothermal energy; and defense and semiconductor themes.
- Markets and investing themes: office REITs, share buybacks and bond ETFs.
These are descriptions of topics in the MarketBeat Week in Review roundup. Their inclusion does not independently verify each reported development or establish an investment case.
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