U.S. equity markets experienced a volatile afternoon on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, as investors grappled with the implications of a federal government shutdown and a surprisingly weak private-sector jobs report. While major indexes initially showed declines, afternoon trading saw a mixed picture emerge, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) managing to eke out gains, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) and S&P 500 (^GSPC) struggled to find firm footing. The ongoing political uncertainty in ...