The U.S. markets began the week closing well into red territory on Monday. Technology stocks traded lower on a variety of economic data. Personal Income grew by 0.3% in August, missing expectations of a 0.6% advance. August’s personal income was also down from an upwardly revised 0.5% jump in July, while real spending ticked up 0.4% last month, bettering July’s rate. U.S. pending home sales also retreated in August. Consumer confidence improved in September with the Conference Board’s consumer sentiment index’s final reading coming in at 103, up from 101.3 in August. Indices closed Wednesday’s session on a positive note, as Technology stocks rallied. The ISM Manufacturing Index dipped to 50.2 last month from 51.1 in August. Indices ended the week on a positive note, with Energy stocks leading the rally. Labor Department data showed an addition of 142,000 jobs in September; however, the results were well shy of an expected 200,000 jobs. The unemployment rate held tight at 5.1%.
