Good morning investors! US-Iran situation continues to rattle markets.
Today we cover:
What to expect this week
The last quarter
Helping kids manage money
📊 Economy and News
What to Expect this Week
Here’s what to keep an eye on this week:
Monday, Oct. 5
Economic data: S&P Global Composite & Services PMI (final, Sept.); ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI (Sept.).
Tuesday, Oct. 6
Earnings: Lamb Weston (LW), Apogee Enterprises, Neogen, and RPM International (before open); Constellation Brands (STZ) after close.
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Fed: FOMC minutes from the September meeting (2 p.m. ET). These cover the mid-September rate hike and views on further tightening.
Earnings: Applied Digital (APLD) and Levi Strauss (LEVI) after the close.
Thursday, Oct. 8
Earnings: PepsiCo (PEP) before the open (est. ~$2.30 EPS); also Tilray Brands and Helen of Troy.
Economic data: Weekly jobless claims.
Friday, Oct. 9
Earnings: Delta Air Lines (DAL) before the open (est. ~$1.90 EPS).
Economic data: University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment (preliminary, October) at 10 a.m. ET.
Global hits:
U.S. debt could reach 160% of GDP within decade, Scope warns.
Revolut’s rise to become Europe’s $115 billion big bank rival.
Trump says U.S. will send $90 payment to over 20 million Medicare enrollees.
Reminder: OPEC+ agrees to keep November oil output targets steady.
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📈 Stocks
S&P 500 7,722.72 (+0.72%)
DJIA 51,176.96 (+0.49%)
NASDAQ 27,190.86 (+1.19%)
BRENT CRUDE 102.6 (-0.07%)
* Prices as of Oct 4th, 12:20 AM UTC
Markets Reshaped by War, Oil and Bond Sell-Off
The third quarter brought renewed volatility across global markets as the Iran conflict, surging oil prices and a major bond sell-off reshaped investor sentiment.
Stocks: The S&P 500 gained 2.03% and Nasdaq 2.2%, while the Dow fell 1.9%. AI stocks were mixed, with Nvidia and Microsoft rising strongly while Oracle and Broadcom declined.
Global markets: European stocks posted modest gains, while South Korea’s Kospi fell 19.3% and China’s CSI 300 dropped 12.5%.
Bonds: Government bond yields surged to multi-decade highs as investors worried about inflation and higher interest rates. The U.S. 10-year yield remained above 5%.
Oil: Brent crude jumped 42% to $103.53 per barrel, while WTI rose 30.1% to $90.42 as the Middle East conflict disrupted energy markets.
Dollar: The U.S. dollar index ended September around 101.45, up about 3% for the year, supported by higher bond yields and demand for safe-haven assets.
Despite the volatility, investor optimism remained, with continued confidence in AI, corporate earnings, power and resources.
💵 Personal Finance
Helping Gen Alpha Kids Turn Earnings into Savings
Many kids ages 7–14 already have their own money—and know how to spend it. A recent PwC survey found 86% of them hold cash of their own, and 97% make independent spending decisions at least sometimes. They’re entrepreneurial: lemonade stands, online resale, allowances, and odd jobs are common. Parents often discover this only after the fact.
Teach the basics early
Good money habits start with trade-offs. Spending more means saving less; investing can grow money faster than cash. Kids pick up attitudes from parents, so model healthy behavior. Simple tools help: joint savings accounts, high-yield savings, or kid-friendly apps.
Best accounts for young earners
529 plans — Tax-advantaged for education costs.
530A (Trump) Accounts — Up to $5,000 annual contributions; limited early withdrawals.
Custodial brokerage (UTMA/UGMA) — Invest in stocks, funds, and bonds; child takes control at 18–25.
Custodial IRA/Roth IRA — For kids with earned income (up to $7,500 or their total earnings in 2026).
Apps like Acorns Early Invest or Greenlight — Parent-controlled accounts that let kids request trades.
Kids can’t open these alone, so parents should explain benefits and risks. The goal is building the habit of saving and investing, even with small amounts.
💰 Be a Better Investor
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