Stocks just couldn't stay down. After a rough three-day skid that had everyone looking over their shoulder, Wall Street found its footing on Monday. Honestly, it wasn't a blowout, but seeing the green on the screen felt like a collective exhale for investors who’ve been sweating over tariff talk and Fed whispers.
The S&P 500 added 0.3% to finish at 6,661.21. It’s a grind. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fared a bit better, climbing 0.5%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average barely broke a sweat with a 0.1% gain. You've basically got a market that is trying to decide if the economy is "just right" or "about to tip," and today's stock market news today september 29 2025 shows just how sensitive things are to the tiniest bit of news.
The Robinhood Surge and the Rise of Prediction Markets
If you wanted to see where the real action was today, you had to look at Robinhood Markets (HOOD). Their stock didn't just move; it launched. Shares surged over 12% to an all-time high. Why? Prediction markets.
CEO Vlad Tenev confirmed the platform has cleared over 4 billion event contracts on its prediction markets. People aren't just trading stocks anymore; they are betting on everything from election outcomes to economic data releases. Piper Sandler analysts had already hinted this was coming when they boosted their price target last week, but today was the confirmation. It’s a shift in how retail investors engage with the world. Sorta wild, right?
Tariffs Are Tearing Through the Furniture Business
It wasn’t all champagne and record highs. If you sell couches or dining room tables, today was brutal. President Trump’s recent comments about imposing significant tariffs on imported furniture sent a shockwave through the sector.
🔗 Read more: USD to UZS Rate Today: What Most People Get Wrong
Williams-Sonoma (WSM) took the hardest hit in the S&P 500, sinking 4.7%. Investors are basically panicking about how these levies will eat into margins for companies that source most of their inventory from overseas. There is zero clarity yet on the implementation, but the market isn't waiting around for the fine print.
Winners and Losers Under the Microscope
- Western Digital (WDC): Jumped 9.2%. Morgan Stanley and Rosenblatt are bullish on AI-driven demand for hard drives.
- Coinbase (COIN): Gained 6.8%. Bitcoin is hovering near $112k, and SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce’s recent push for regulatory clarity is giving crypto bulls some actual hope.
- AppLovin (APP): Hit a record high, up 6.3%. Their upcoming "Axon Ads Manager" for non-gaming advertisers is the "it" factor here.
- Carnival (CCL): Dropped 4%. Even though they beat revenue forecasts, their "net yield" outlook—basically what they make after commissions—was a letdown.
- Energy Sector: This was the anchor today. The S&P 500 Energy Sector slid 1.9%, with names like ExxonMobil (XOM) and Devon Energy (DVN) dragging things down.
The Fed and the "Silent" Threat of a Shutdown
The Federal Reserve is always the elephant in the room. Even though they recently cut rates by 25 basis points to a range of 4% to 4.25%, the mood is still cautious. Fed Chair Jerome Powell basically told everyone last week to keep their shirts on, noting that stock valuations are looking a bit stretched.
Adding to the tension is the calendar. We are staring down a potential government shutdown this Wednesday. If Congress doesn't get its act together, we might not even get the September jobs report this Friday because the agencies would be closed. Markets hate a vacuum, and a lack of data is the ultimate vacuum.
What's Actually Driving Your Portfolio Right Now
Most people are missing the bigger picture in the stock market news today september 29 2025. It’s not just about one day of trading. It’s the fact that the Leading Economic Index (LEI) fell 0.3% in September. That’s two months of declines in a row.
💡 You might also like: PDI Stock Price Today: What Most People Get Wrong About This 14% Yield
Justyna Zabinska-La Monica from The Conference Board pointed out that consumer and business expectations are weakening. While the Q2 GDP was a robust 3.8%, the forward-looking stuff looks a bit shaky. We’re in this weird spot where the "now" is okay, but the "later" has a lot of question marks.
The Crypto and Tech Connection
It’s impossible to talk about today without mentioning the institutional flood into digital assets. BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) is now sitting on roughly $84 billion in assets. When crypto moves, it’s starting to pull sectors of the Nasdaq with it. If you’re holding tech, you’re increasingly holding a proxy for digital asset sentiment.
Actionable Steps for the Rest of the Week
The volatility isn't going anywhere, so don't get too comfortable with today's minor rally. Here is how to handle the next 48 hours:
1. Watch the Wednesday Deadline
If a government shutdown happens, volatility will spike. Check your stop-losses on sensitive sectors like defense and government services.
📖 Related: Getting a Mortgage on a 300k Home Without Overpaying
2. Focus on "Quality" Earnings
With companies like Nike (NKE) reporting tomorrow, pay attention to their "direct-to-consumer" numbers. If people are still spending there despite high prices, it's a sign the consumer isn't as dead as the LEI suggests.
3. Hedge with Gold or Diversified Assets
Gold hit a fresh record today, supported by the shutdown risk. If you’re 100% in equities, today’s 0.3% gain shouldn't distract you from the fact that safe havens are being bought up by the "smart money."
The market is currently a tug-of-war between strong current earnings and future policy fears. Stick to the data, ignore the noise of the 24-hour cycle, and keep a close eye on those tariff developments.