Stock market today: Live updates

U.S. stock futures ticked down leading up to the final trading session of what’s shaping up to be a winning month and quarter.

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 56 points, or 0.1%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures inched down 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively.

Those moves come after the major averages notched their third consecutive week of gains. Monday marks the final trading day for September and the third quarter, which are both on track to conclude with gains despite some pain points.

Markets had a rough start to what is historically the weakest month for the stock market, but rebounded as September went on with the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates by a super-sized half point. Month to date, the Dow and the S&P 500 are now up 1.8% and 1.6%, respectively. The tech-heavy Nasdaq has advanced 2.3% in September.

The Dow has led the way this quarter, climbing more than 8%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq have added more than 5% and 2%, respectively, since July began.

Looking ahead, October has a troubling history for markets. It’s known as a time of extreme volatility with some of the more notable Wall Street drawdowns occurring during the month.

Still, investors are excited about equities into the final stretch of the year after their rallies thus far. Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Welch noted that the fourth quarter is typically the strongest for stocks and ends positively in more than three out of every four years.

“The market navigated the typically challenging September better than we anticipated,” Welch said. “Now, as we enter a stronger seasonal period, coupled with the start of a Fed easing cycle and favorable technical conditions — we expect these will provide a tailwind into the end of the year.”

“We believe now is not the time to fight the Fed or the tape,” he added. Instead, “it is an opportunity to position for a potential fourth-quarter rally, especially on any pullback.”