S&P -0.17%; Nasdaq -0.09%; VIX ended at 16.04.
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S&P 500 falls 0.17%Few sectors joined the modest decline
The equal-weight S&P 500 (RSP) -0.11% versus the cap-weighted SPY -0.18%, so the average stock beat the biggest by 0.07 points. Among the largest stocks, META led at +3.24% and AAPL trailed at -2.66%.
A 2.07-point spread separated the best and worst sectors.
Equal weight outperformed by 0.07 percentage points. This is a participation proxy, not an attribution of index contributions.
BriefThe tape
Major indexes
Previous close to latest close. Sparklines show the verified regular-hours session path when available.
Chapter 01
Overview
How today fits the recent run of sessions, and the markets you follow.
OverviewRegime history
Recent regimes
Today's regime in the context of recent sessions. Select a day to see its inputs.
Solid cells were published in an archived issue (8); outlined cells are reconstructed from daily closes with the same rule, using only that day's moves. Constructive: S&P 500 up, VIX down, all 11 sector ETFs reporting and at least 60% advancing. Defensive: S&P 500 down, VIX up, all 11 reporting and at most 40% advancing. Otherwise mixed.
OverviewHistorical context
How this session compared
Context is calculated only from earlier archived Daily Tape sessions, so the comparison never uses future data.
Prior 7-session average: 44.2%
Percentile rank within the current plus prior archived-session sample.
Consecutive archived sessions with the same regime classification.
Utilities ranked first in 1 consecutive archived session and 1 of the last 8.
Compounded from five archived Daily Tape session returns.
Chapter 02
Leadership & participation
What is actually participating in the move?
LeadershipSector leadership
Sector returns, ranked
All 11 sector ETFs ranked by session return, with weighting and participation checks.
Utilities (XLU) led at +1.17% and Energy (XLE) trailed at -0.90%, a 2.07-point gap. Interpretation: Utility shares held up best while energy names lagged furthest behind, marking a wide split in sector performance.
LeadershipRelative strength
Performance versus SPY
Persistent leaders versus one-day winners, measured against SPY.
| Name | 1D | 5D | 1M | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TechnologyXLK | +0.16 pp | +0.28 pp | +5.31 pp | Leading |
| HealthcareXLV | -0.13 pp | +1.67 pp | +0.59 pp | Mixed |
| Comm. ServicesXLC | +0.44 pp | -0.63 pp | -0.60 pp | Mixed |
| EnergyXLE | -0.72 pp | +0.81 pp | -0.78 pp | Mixed |
| Cons. StaplesXLP | -0.34 pp | +0.12 pp | -3.14 pp | Mixed |
| IndustrialsXLI | +0.39 pp | +0.51 pp | -3.82 pp | Mixed |
| Real EstateXLRE | +0.16 pp | -1.55 pp | -5.84 pp | Mixed |
| UtilitiesXLU | +1.35 pp | -0.84 pp | -5.95 pp | Mixed |
| Cons. DiscretionaryXLY | +0.32 pp | -1.65 pp | -6.24 pp | Mixed |
| FinancialsXLF | -0.15 pp | -0.26 pp | -6.29 pp | Lagging |
| MaterialsXLB | -0.57 pp | -1.64 pp | -6.80 pp | Lagging |
| Name | 1D | 5D | 1M | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meta PlatformsMETA | +3.42 pp | +1.49 pp | +28.37 pp | Leading |
| Micron TechnologyMU | +1.23 pp | -1.66 pp | +14.62 pp | Mixed |
| NvidiaNVDA | -0.54 pp | +0.45 pp | +5.01 pp | Mixed |
| AppleAAPL | -2.48 pp | -1.87 pp | +3.47 pp | Mixed |
| TeslaTSLA | -1.11 pp | -5.69 pp | +1.62 pp | Mixed |
| MicrosoftMSFT | +0.13 pp | +3.38 pp | -0.47 pp | Mixed |
| AlphabetGOOGL | -0.35 pp | -1.73 pp | -1.13 pp | Lagging |
| BroadcomAVGO | +1.76 pp | -1.41 pp | -3.09 pp | Mixed |
| AmazonAMZN | +0.39 pp | -2.08 pp | -6.99 pp | Mixed |
LeadershipMarket internals
Breadth and participation
Participation measured across stated, tracked universes. None of these is presented as NYSE or Nasdaq constituent breadth.
7 declined · 36.4% positive
RSP minus SPY. Equal weight led.
Total-return spread. Persistent positives favor broader participation.
Closing highs vs lows across 24 tracked instruments.
2 of 11 sector ETFs above their moving average.
3 of 11 sector ETFs above their moving average.
4 of 11 sector ETFs above their moving average.
Universes: 11 S&P sector ETFs; SPY and RSP; 20-session highs and lows across sector ETFs, tracked mega-caps, SPY, RSP, QQQ and IWM. Not covered by current data sources: NYSE and Nasdaq advance/decline counts; Exchange-wide new highs and new lows; Share of index constituents above moving averages. These are left out rather than approximated.
Chapter 03
What drove the tape
The verified context around the session, the read it supports, and the names that set the pace.
DriversVerified catalysts
Verified news from the session
Developments published between the prior close and this report, from official sources first and allowlisted publishers second. Listed as context, never as the cause of a move.
- Waller, Payments in the Age of AI AgentsFederal Reserve
- Barr, Economic Conditions and Monetary PolicyFederal Reserve
- Bowman, Opening RemarksFederal Reserve
- Major Economic Indicators Latest NumbersU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
“Most tracked sector funds failed to advance, pointing to narrow participation beneath the headline index move.”
4 of 11 sector ETFs rose. Interpretation reflects price relationships; no event catalyst is inferred.
DriversMega-cap & AI
Largest companies by market cap
The market’s largest leaders, ordered by market cap: close, session range, daily return, and the latest verified price path.
Among the largest stocks, META led at +3.24% and AAPL trailed at -2.66%. Interpretation: Returns among the largest stocks varied sharply, underscoring stock-specific divergence rather than a unified mega-cap trend.
NVDA -0.72%, 0.63 points behind the Nasdaq.
AAPL -2.66%, 2.57 points behind the Nasdaq.
GOOGL -0.53%, 0.44 points behind the Nasdaq.
MSFT -0.05%, 0.04 points ahead of the Nasdaq.
AMZN +0.21%, 0.30 points ahead of the Nasdaq.
META +3.24%, 3.33 points ahead of the Nasdaq.
AVGO +1.58%, 1.67 points ahead of the Nasdaq.
TSLA -1.29%, 1.20 points behind the Nasdaq.
MU +1.05%, 1.14 points ahead of the Nasdaq.
Chapter 04
Cross-asset & macro
Yields, oil, the dollar, credit, overseas closes and crypto: the read beyond U.S. equities.
MacroMacro pulse
Yields rose.
Oil fell.
CL=F -3.80% and ^GSPC -0.17% over their reported sessions. Interpretation: Oil and the broad equity index moved in the same direction this session, though a single day does not establish a lasting link.
MacroRates & credit
Treasury yields and credit
Session yields, the official Treasury curve, actual credit spreads and bond ETF proxies, each labeled with its source and date.
| Tenor | Session close | 1D | Official par | d/d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3M | 4.070% | +1 bps | 4.28% | +4 bps |
| 2Y | No index | — | 4.92% | +11 bps |
| 5Y | 5.060% | -1 bps | 5.06% | +8 bps |
| 10Y | 5.260% | +2 bps | 5.24% | +7 bps |
| 30Y | 5.590% | +3 bps | 5.56% | +7 bps |
Official curve as of Sep 28 (prior session). Treasury publishes it late in the afternoon, so the Close Tape can show the prior session. U.S. Treasury ↗
MacroGlobal check
Overseas closes
Regional closes, daily direction, and each market’s latest verified path. Local closing times differ from New York.
MacroDigital assets
Major cryptocurrencies
Crypto trades around the clock; each move is measured over the reported session.
BTC-USD +0.09% for the reported session.
ETH-USD +0.07% for the reported session.
SOL-USD +0.18% for the reported session.
XRP-USD +0.00% for the reported session.
Chapter 05
Next session
What matters next: the takeaways from this close, the scheduled events, and what to watch.
AheadDecision summary
Three takeaways
The move, the cross-asset read, and the marker that matters next.
S&P 500 -0.17%; VIX -0.19%; 36% of sector ETFs rose.
Equity, volatility and participation readings did not point in one consistent direction, leaving the overall picture unsettled.
Participation above 4/11 advancing sector ETFs would broaden the next-session reading; lower participation would weaken it. Use 5.26% as the ten-year closing reference; test whether a move above it coincides with weaker technology relative returns. Compare next-session participation with today’s 4/9 advancing leaders; fewer advancers would narrow leadership.
AheadMarket calendar
Upcoming events
Scheduled events as recorded when this issue was published. U.S. releases, Treasury auctions, tracked earnings and market-structure dates for this session and the next. Times in Central Time.
Report session · Tuesday, Sep 29
- 8:00 AM CTSource 9:00 AM ETHPI m/m
Economic dataImportance: Low (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- 0.1%
- Previous
- 0.0%
- 8:00 AM CTSource 9:00 AM ETS&P/CS Composite-20 HPI y/y
Economic dataImportance: Low (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- 2.2%
- Previous
- 2.1%
- 9:00 AM CTSource 10:00 AM ETCB Consumer Confidence
ConsumerImportance: Medium (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- 89.2
- Previous
- 89.4
- 9:00 AM CTSource 10:00 AM ETJOLTS Job Openings
EmploymentImportance: Medium (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- 7.23M
- Previous
- 7.27M
- 10:00 AM CTSource 11:00 AM ETFOMC Member Bowman Speaks
Central bankImportance: Low (source)
- 11:40 AM CTSource 12:40 PM ETFOMC Member Barr Speaks
Central bankImportance: Low (source)
- 12:00 PM CTSource 1:00 PM ETFOMC Member Goolsbee Speaks
Central bankImportance: Low (source)
- 12:30 PM CTSource 1:30 PM ETFOMC Member Musalem Speaks
Central bankImportance: Low (source)
- 1:00 PM CTSource 2:00 PM ETFOMC Member Williams Speaks
Central bankImportance: Low (source)
- 2:00 PM CTSource 3:00 PM ETFOMC Member Waller Speaks
Central bankImportance: Low (source)
- 3:30 PM CTSource 4:30 PM ETAPI Weekly Statistical Bulletin
Economic dataImportance: Low (source)
Next session · Wednesday, Sep 30
- 7:15 AM CTSource 8:15 AM ETADP Non-Farm Employment Change
EmploymentImportance: Medium (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- 73K
- Previous
- 38K
- 7:30 AM CTSource 8:30 AM ETCore PCE Price Index m/m
InflationImportance: High (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- 0.3%
- Previous
- 0.2%
- 7:30 AM CTSource 8:30 AM ETFinal GDP Price Index q/q
InflationImportance: Medium (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- 6.4%
- Previous
- 6.4%
- 7:30 AM CTSource 8:30 AM ETFinal GDP q/q
GrowthImportance: High (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- 1.5%
- Previous
- 1.5%
- 7:30 AM CTSource 8:30 AM ETGoods Trade Balance
TradeImportance: Low (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- -116.3B
- Previous
- -118.8B
- 7:30 AM CTSource 8:30 AM ETPersonal Income m/m
ConsumerImportance: Low (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- 0.5%
- Previous
- 0.4%
- 7:30 AM CTSource 8:30 AM ETPersonal Spending m/m
ConsumerImportance: Low (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- 0.8%
- Previous
- 0.2%
- 7:30 AM CTSource 8:30 AM ETPrelim Wholesale Inventories m/m
Economic dataImportance: Low (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- 0.5%
- Previous
- 1.3%
- 8:45 AM CTSource 9:45 AM ETChicago PMI
Business surveysImportance: Low (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- 51.2
- Previous
- 47.1
- 9:30 AM CTSource 10:30 AM ETCrude Oil Inventories
EnergyImportance: Low (source)
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- -1.9M
- Previous
- 3.0M
- 12:30 PM CTSource 1:30 PM ETFOMC Member Barkin Speaks
Central bankImportance: Low (source)
- 2:25 PM CTSource 3:25 PM ETFOMC Member Cook Speaks
Central bankImportance: Low (source)
- 4:10 PM CTSource 5:10 PM ETFOMC Member Goolsbee Speaks
Central bankImportance: Low (source)
- 5:00 PM CTSource 6:00 PM ETFOMC Member Kashkari Speaks
Central bankImportance: Low (source)
- Time not publishedMU earnings
EarningsRelease time not provided
- Actual
- —
- Consensus
- EPS est. 31.82
- Previous
- —
- Time not published17-Week Bill auction
Treasury auctionOffering $75B · CUSIP 912797WS2
AheadForward look
What to watch next
Variables to monitor next, framed as conditions rather than predictions.
- Participation above 4/11 advancing sector ETFs would broaden the next-session reading; lower participation would weaken it.
- Use 5.26% as the ten-year closing reference; test whether a move above it coincides with weaker technology relative returns.
- Compare next-session participation with today’s 4/9 advancing leaders; fewer advancers would narrow leadership.
01Cross-asset checks+
- Test whether DX-Y.NYB (+0.23%) and GC=F (+0.92%) retain their directional relationship in the next comparable window.
- Test whether CL=F (-3.80%) and ^GSPC (-0.17%) retain their directional relationship in the next comparable window.
02Rates & confirmation+
- Use 5.26% as the ten-year closing reference; test whether a move above it coincides with weaker technology relative returns.
- Look for agreement between equity direction, volatility and sector participation before treating the move as broadly confirmed.
03Technology leadership+
- Compare next-session participation with today’s 4/9 advancing leaders; fewer advancers would narrow leadership.
- Check whether Nasdaq relative strength persists or converges with the S&P 500.
04Risk dashboard+
- Participation above 4/11 advancing sector ETFs would broaden the next-session reading; lower participation would weaken it.
- Use 5.26% as the ten-year closing reference; test whether a move above it coincides with weaker technology relative returns.
Reference & methodology
Supporting reference levels, delivery options, and where every number on this page comes from.