Market Retreats Amid Fiscal Uncertainty; Gaza Peace Deal Emerges
Equity ETFs stumbled in Thursday's session as SPY and QQQ failed to recover from intraday losses, despite an IRS deduction boost. The ninth day of government shutdown saw Senate reject funding bills again, with President TRUMP threatening permanent cuts to Democratic programs. "We're only cutting Democrat programs," he declared, framing healthcare debates as political leverage.
Gaza conflict resolution gained traction as Israel and Hamas agreed to a phased peace deal. "ALL Hostages will be released very soon," Trump announced on Truth Social, outlining troop withdrawals as precursor to lasting peace. Meanwhile, consumer durable prices climbed 0.58% in September—marking ten consecutive months of inflationary pressure.