Wall Street Rises as Shutdown Drags On and Gold Nears $4,000

​Market Calm Amid Chaos
Wall Street kicked off the week in a surprisingly good mood — even as the U.S. government shutdown stretched into another week. Futures for the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all inched higher Monday morning, continuing a rally that has already taken major indexes to record highs.

The Dow gained about 0.2%, the S&P 500 added 0.3%, and the Nasdaq 100 rose 0.4% — a reminder that investors are brushing off Washington’s dysfunction and betting the bull run still has legs.

Shutdown? What Shutdown?
Despite Congress failing to pass a funding deal, Wall Street doesn’t seem to care. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both logged their fourth weekly gain in five, while the Dow closed higher for the third time in four weeks.

“Investors are treating bad news like good news,” said one strategist. “No jobs data? No problem — that’s just one less obstacle for stocks.” The absence of Friday’s jobs report is being viewed as a relief rather than a concern, feeding into the market’s “no news is good news” narrative.

All Eyes on the Fed
With official data delayed, traders are turning to the Federal Reserve for clues. Fed Governor Stephen Miran is scheduled to speak Wednesday, followed by Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday. Their remarks could shape expectations for the central bank’s next move, especially with another rate cut still on the table.

Meanwhile, economists expect the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index to be the week’s most meaningful economic release — one of the few data points still available during the shutdown.

Corporate Earnings Trickle In
Earnings season is slowly ramping up. This week, investors will get reports from PepsiCo, Delta Air Lines, and Levi Strauss — three bellwethers for consumer spending, travel, and retail trends. These results could offer valuable hints about the economy’s resilience amid Washington’s gridlock.

Gold’s Record-Breaking Run
While stocks climb, gold is stealing the spotlight. The precious metal is closing in on the $4,000 per ounce mark, soaring to around $3,967 in early trading — its highest level ever. The rally comes as traders flock to safe havens, wary of murky economic data and ongoing political uncertainty.

The shutdown has delayed key reports like payroll data, leaving the Federal Reserve short on insights. That’s pushed rate traders to keep pricing in another quarter-point cut, which makes gold even more appealing — it doesn’t pay interest, but it thrives when rates fall.

The Bigger Picture
​Between record-breaking stock indexes and gold’s unstoppable rise, markets are sending a clear message: investors are betting that the Fed will keep the money taps open, shutdown or not. Washington may be stuck, but Wall Street’s optimism is running full throttle.