US equities advanced on Tuesday, demonstrating resilience despite mounting concerns surrounding a potential government shutdown. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 46,298 points, marking a 0.2% increase from the previous trading day.
The broader S&P 500 registered a gain of 0.4%, reaching approximately 6,688 points, while the Nasdaq 100 climbed to around 24,680 points with a 0.3% increase shortly before the close of trading in New York.
Investor sentiment was tempered by the looming threat of a government shutdown scheduled to commence Wednesday. Negotiations between Republicans and Democrats have yet to yield an agreement on extending the debt ceiling, leaving the possibility of closure on the table.
Adding to the cautious tone, the Conference Board’s latest Consumer Confidence Survey was released, revealing a significant decline in consumers’ assessment of the current economic climate. Concerns surrounding the labor market were particularly noted.
The Euro strengthened slightly against the US Dollar, trading at $1.1736, equivalent to €0.8521 per dollar.
Gold prices benefited from the prevailing market conditions, reaching $3,852 per fine ounce (+0.5%), which translates to €105.53 per gram.
Conversely, oil prices experienced a notable decline. Brent crude, a benchmark for North Sea oil, fell to $67.02 per barrel, a decrease of 95 cents or 1.4% compared to the previous day’s closing price.