Stocks rally but retreat after the government says the unemployment rate falls to 7.8%, lowest since 2009. Apple, Zynga and Facebook lead a pullback. Crude oil falls below $90. Alcoa starts earnings season on Tuesday.
Economic concerns resonate on campus, where deficit and unemployment remain major issues.
Coal-related stocks would get a boost, while alternative-energy names would likely become short candidates.
US private-sector payrolls expand by 162,000. Service sector picks up in September. But in China and Europe, data is weak. Also, uncertainty about the timing of Spain's bailout is causing jitters. Best Buy may be up for an $11 billion buyout.
A report commissioned by Congress recommends that restaurants cut back on sodium -- a move that could hurt profits.
MSN Money's Anthony Mirhaydari discusses the presidential race and offers some investment advice.
The typical cycle suggests a pullback is coming heading into the election, but it could be more severe if Romney wins.
The Dow sees a small gain; the Nasdaq and S&P 500 are lower. Jobless claims improve slightly. Oracle earnings don't impress. Trulia has a big IPO. Shares of Norfolk Southern and Bed Bath & Beyond sag. Economic reports from Europe and China are weak.
VIDEO ON MSN MONEY
DATA PROVIDERS
Copyright © 2013 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
Quotes are real-time for NASDAQ, NYSE and AMEX. See delay times for other exchanges.
Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Thomson Reuters (click for restrictions). Real-time quotes provided by BATS Exchange. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Interactive Data Real-Time Services. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by SIX Financial Information.
Japanese stock price data provided by Nomura Research Institute Ltd.; quotes delayed 20 minutes. Canadian fund data provided by CANNEX Financial Exchanges Ltd.
TOP STOCKS
Try as the bears might, they couldn't break US stocks. But investors still face frothy prices and considerable headwinds.
MARKET DISPATCHES
The Market Dispatches column has been discontinued. Here's where to find the latest stock and business news on MSN Money, and the latest from market writer Charley Blaine.
FRUGAL COOL
Starting Monday, this site is joining forces with MSN Money Smart Spending. Here's why.
MONEY & POLITICS
Breaking up big banks is an untested solution to the too big to fail problem that attempts to isolate and dismantle large, troubled institutions while protecting the rest of the economy.
SMART SPENDING
A new federal safety report shows toddlers and minority children make up a disproportionate number of drowning victims.
SMART TAXES
The IRS is struggling to combat identify thieves who file fraudulent tax returns in the names of older residents who don't need to file.

