Stock Market’s Fate Comes Down to Next 14 Trading Sessions

Jobs reports, a key inflation reading and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision all hit over the next 14 trading sessions, setting the tone for investors as they return from summer vacations. The events arrive with the stock market seemingly at a crossroads after the S&P 500 Index posted its smallest monthly gain since July 2024 and heads into September, historically its worst month of the year. At the same time, volatility has vanished, with the Cboe Volatility Index, or VIX, trading above the key 20 level just once since the end of June.