The U.S. government shutdown will capture investor focus next week. Markets hold near record highs, preparing for the earnings season. Few expect the Washington situation to derail the current rally. A data drought could impact Federal Reserve policy decisions. The fourth quarter is historically strong for stocks. Investors anticipate results from Levi Strauss and Delta Air Lines.
US stocks today: Dow posts closing record high, S&P 500, Nasdaq muted as AI rally pauses
US stocks ended mixed as the Dow hit a record closing high driven by healthcare and consumer gains, while tech and chip stocks lagged. Banking