Stock market today: live updates

Stock futures fell slightly on Wednesday evening as investors await the September payroll report due later this week.

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 44 points or 0.1%. S&P 500 futures fell 0.14%, while Nasdaq 100 futures fell by 0.27%.

In after-hours trading: denim manufacturers Levi Strauss fell about 10% after delivering mixed results for its fiscal third quarter. The company also announced that it is considering selling its Dockers business, which will negatively impact its overall business.

October trading got off to a rocky start this month as escalating tensions in the Middle East dampened investor enthusiasm. Stocks plunged on Tuesday after Iran launched a missile attack on Israel. Investors are bracing for more uncertainty as Israel launches a ground operation in Lebanon.

The three major US indices ended Wednesday slightly above the flatline. The S&P 500 gained just 0.01%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 0.08%. The 30-stock Dow gained about 39 points, or 0.09%.

Private sector hiring was better than expected in September, according to ADP data released Wednesday.

On Thursday, investors await further labor market data with the release of weekly initial jobless claims. The biggest event for traders – and the Federal Reserve, as it has begun a rate-cutting cycle – is the September payroll report due Friday morning.

“As the stock market grapples with a host of concerns — including escalating tensions in the Middle East, a port strike and election uncertainty — liquidity is critical, and there is more of it now that the Fed has begun cutting interest rates Abundance…that means markets can continue to rise,” said Mary Ann Bartels, chief investment strategist at Sanctuary Wealth.

“Bring on the volatility in October because there is still plenty of fuel left in this bull market,” she added.