US Presidential or Congressional Actions with Economic Consequences
US midterm elections to determine Congress control
Voters head to the polls Tuesday, with results shaping Congress's spending plans and fiscal priorities. A divided or unified government outcome could shift expectations for fiscal stimulus, taxes, and sector-specific policy, driving near-term equity and Treasury positioning.
October nonfarm payrolls and full employment data week
A heavy labor-market calendar runs JOLTS (Tue), ADP (Wed), productivity and jobless claims (Thu), and October nonfarm payrolls (Fri). A weak print would reinforce rate-cut expectations and support Treasuries, while a hot print could revive tightening fears and pressure equities.
The ISM Manufacturing PMI for October is due Monday at 10:00 AM ET with consensus at 54.6 versus 54.5 prior, alongside the employment sub-index at 53.0. A beat would support cyclical and industrial equities and lift yields; a miss would add to growth concerns after Friday's tech-led selloff.
Apple reports Monday after the bell with iPhone 18 sales in focus, and Palantir also reports. Apple is the only Magnificent Seven name beating the S&P 500 this year, so a strong print could stabilize megacap tech after Friday's $5 trillion AI rout, while a miss risks extending the selloff.
AI-driven tech selloff after Intel and Amazon disappoint
Friday saw the S&P 500 fall 1.8% and the Nasdaq 100 tumble 3.5%, with Intel plunging 28.6% on weak guidance and Reddit dropping 29.2%, marking Wall Street's worst session since June. The VIX jumped nearly 13% to 19.42 with the front curve inverted, signaling continued elevated volatility into payrolls and CPI.
Significant Geopolitical Events with US Economic Impact
Iran war diplomacy hopes pull oil down from highs
Secretary of State Rubio said Trump wants to resolve the Iranian war diplomatically, and Qatari-Iranian talks continued, sending Brent down about 3% to around $110 after trading above $114. Trump pledged no further strikes before the vote but left military action open afterward, keeping a two-way risk in energy and inflation expectations.
Significant Geopolitical Events with US Economic Impact
Strait of Hormuz tanker attacks keep supply risk elevated
Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed three tankers exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, which remains effectively shut in the ninth month of the Iran war, pushing WTI up 2.08% to $104.12 and Brent to a six-month high near $117.64. Persistent supply disruption supports energy prices and upside inflation risk, a headwind for duration and consumer-facing equities.
The US Treasury will set out planned auction sizes for notes and bonds on Wednesday as part of its quarterly refunding. Larger-than-expected issuance would pressure long-end yields and steepen the curve, while a contained schedule would ease duration supply concerns.
Despite Fed officials emphasizing the need for additional tightening, market-implied probability of a December rate hike fell to 72.9% with the chance of a pause temporarily exceeding 30% after Friday's safe-haven Treasury buying. Further repricing of hike odds on this week's data would move front-end yields and rate-sensitive equities.
Major Policy Announcements from US Regulatory Bodies
OPEC+ holds December output targets steady
OPEC+ kept its output targets unchanged through December, removing a potential supply increase that could have capped crude. With Hormuz disruptions ongoing, the decision reinforces upside pressure on oil and, by extension, on near-term inflation expectations and energy equities.