US stocks traded higher today, with the S&P 500 up +0.08%, Dow Jones down -0.41%, and Nasdaq up +0.55%. M&A deals include Kimberly-Clark buying Kenvue for $40 billion and Eaton acquiring Boyd’s thermal business for $9.5 billion. Fed Governor Miran stated policy is too restrictive, with markets expecting a 66% chance of a -25 bp rate cut in December. The US government shutdown continues, impacting the economy. Overseas markets are up, with European bond yields higher. Stock movers include Amazon, Alphabet, Nvidia, IREN LTD, Kenvue, Cisco Systems, and Eaton. Q3 earnings continue positively, but profits and sales growth are slowing. The US Supreme Court will hear arguments on Trump’s tariffs.

Read more at Barchart: Stocks See Support From M&A and AI Optimism