Finance & Markets News Today — October 31, 2026
Alaska Senate election: DOJ wants to 'segregate' all ballots for 2nd Sullivan candidate and more — today's news signal.
The financial markets and broader economy are navigating a complex landscape, with various factors influencing investor sentiment and decision-making. In the labor market, wage growth has slowed to a 5-year low, leaving American workers with diminishing take-home pay. This development comes as the Federal Reserve continues to consider its monetary policy stance, with St. Louis Fed's Musalem suggesting that another rate hike may be necessary soon. Against this backdrop, the technology sector is experiencing a significant sell-off, with major players like Amazon and Intel seeing their stock prices decline sharply in response to earnings reports.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq is on track to post its worst October performance in relation to the Dow Jones Industrial Average since 2022, highlighting the shifting dynamics within the market. Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency space is also in focus, with bitcoin showing resilience in the face of a record hack at Binance. In a separate development, the US Department of Justice is seeking to segregate ballots related to a contentious Senate election in Alaska. As investors and policymakers continue to assess these various factors, the overall economic and market narrative remains one of caution and adjustment.
Today's signal:
• Alaska Senate election: DOJ wants to 'segregate' all ballots for 2nd Sullivan candidate (cnbc.com)
• Wage growth hits 5-year low as American workers find their take-home pay is ‘stretched thinner and thinner’ (marketwatch.com)
• Why bitcoin held up better after the record Binance hack (cnbc.com)
• St. Louis Fed's Musalem: Another rate hike needed 'soon' (cnbc.com)
• Amazon falls 2%, Intel dives 29%, as tech stocks sell off in post-earnings rout (cnbc.com)
• Big Tech’s scary October has a twist: Dow on track for biggest monthly lead over Nasdaq since 2022 (marketwatch.com)