Markets hold up surprisingly well amid shutdown and layoff risks

Despite the mounting drama in Washington on October 5, financial markets showed remarkable resilience. Equities advanced modestly, with technology, healthcare, and defense names among the best performers. The S&P 500 ticked upward, even as volatility flickered in smaller-cap segments. Investors appeared to favor continuation of strong momentum over short-term policy risk. One major driver: growing […]

Markets shrug off shutdown turmoil, AI and defense names lead rally

October 4, 2025 produced another surprising twist: despite the federal government entering its fourth day of shutdown, equity markets pushed upward again. Gains were modest but persistent, with heavyweights in technology, defense, and AI infrastructure topping sector performance tables. A driving force was renewed optimism that the Federal Reserve, constrained by missing inflation and employment […]

Democrat judge kills Trump’s National Guard move in Oregon as legal battle deepens

On October 4, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing President Trump from deploying the Oregon National Guard to Portland, escalating an already fraught standoff between the federal government and state authorities. The ruling, handed down by Judge Karin Immergut, curtails the administration’s push to assert federal control over unrest in the city. […]