US stocks closed the month and quarter on fresh highs as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell pledged to maintain economic stability without rushing future rate cuts. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, marking its best September performance since 1997. The Dow Jones also hit an all-time high, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.4%.

  • S&P 500 up 5.4% for the quarter, with its best year-to-date performance since 1997.
  • Dow led quarterly gains at 8.2%, while the Nasdaq added nearly 3%.
  • Investors eye the upcoming jobs report for signs of labour market strength amidst the rally.

With cautious optimism from Powell, markets are bracing for economic data to determine the Fed’s next steps.