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US Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Futures Flat As Inflation Jitters Meet China Optimism

Simply Wall St · 2d ago

The Morning Bull - US Market Morning Update Wednesday, Sep, 30 2026

US stock futures are slightly higher, with E-mini S&P 500 contracts up about 0.01% and Nasdaq-100 minis ahead roughly 0.2%. The bigger story sits overseas. Spain’s inflation is running at 4.9% a year, with a core rate of 3.1%. That points to stubborn price pressures that keep borrowing costs elevated for longer and matters for everything from mortgage rates to credit card bills. At the same time, China reports industrial profits up 15.7% this year, a sign that factories tied to high tech are holding up. The puzzle for investors is whether stubborn inflation or steadier global manufacturing momentum ends up driving US market sector leaders, especially in rate-sensitive financials and globally exposed industrial and tech stocks.

Global data keeps circling the same pressure point for investors today, with central banks from Australia to Japan leaning on higher policy rates and households in places like the UK feeling the strain through record consumer credit and weaker mortgage approvals.

If you want ideas that may be built to handle tougher credit conditions and stickier inflation, start scanning for 32 resilient stocks with low risk scores.

Top Movers

  • Carnival (CCL) jumped 13.41% after earnings, buyback progress and a higher analyst price target.
  • Bloom Energy (BE) gained 10.80% following bullish analyst commentary on demand, capacity expansion and a higher target.
  • Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) rose 7.45% as multiple banks upgraded Royal Caribbean after its Sandals investment plans.

Is Royal Caribbean Cruises still a smart investment or just hype? Read our most popular narrative and get all the answers you need.

CCL 1-Year Stock Price Chart
CCL 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Top Losers

  • Pershing Square (PS) fell 9.48% after Jones downgraded Pershing Square to Hold, citing stretched valuation versus assets.
  • Steel Dynamics (STLD) declined 3.69% as traders reacted to headlines around a proposed new US steel facility.
  • Rocket Lab (RKLB) fell 3.45% after recent gains, with traders reassessing aerospace and launch sector sentiment.

Look past the noise - uncover the top narrative that explains what truly matters for Rocket Lab's long-term success.

PS 1-Year Stock Price Chart
PS 1-Year Stock Price Chart

On The Radar

Earnings from Micron Technology, Jabil, Accenture and NIKE will shape how traders think about global hardware, services and consumer demand.

  • Micron Technology (MU) reports Q4 2026 results today, with a focus on memory pricing, capital spending and data center demand signals.
  • Jabil (JBL) posts Q4 2026 numbers this morning, providing insight into outsourced electronics production and hardware supply trends.
  • Accenture (ACN) delivers Q4 2026 results tomorrow, highlighting consulting budgets and technology project pipelines across major corporate clients.
  • NIKE (NKE) reports Q1 2027 after the close tomorrow, offering a view into consumer demand, inventory management and the balance between wholesale and direct sales.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.