A. M. 
Wall Street’s main indexes registered losses on thursday after investors shifted from optimism about the reopening of the U.S. government to concern about the lack of economic data and uncertainty about the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) next moves regarding interest rates.
The S&P 500 fell nearly 0.5%, settling around 6,800 points, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped 1%, primarily affected by large companies in the sector. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined between 0.1% and 0.2%, moving further away from its all-time high of over 48,000 points reached on wednesday.
Market volatility persists despite President Donald Trump signing a funding bill wednesday night that ended the longest government shutdown in the country’s history, a 43-day closure. The House of Representatives passed the measure by a vote of 222 to 209, securing funding for most government operations until january 30.
Analysts point out that the prolonged suspension of government activities has created a “data blackout”, making it difficult to assess the economic outlook, just as the Fed is set to define its rate-cutting strategy for 2025. The lack of key information, such as employment and inflation indicators, could delay the central bank’s decisions and keep investors cautious.
Amid the uncertainty, markets are closely watching for upcoming Fed announcements and the recovery of economic activity following the government’s reopening.
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