The Dow Jones Futures (YM=F) was up 13.00 (0.02%) points today, reflecting a cautious atmosphere as investors digest a wave of fresh economic data. The primary narrative driving the market on this Thursday, September 3, 2026, is the release of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) services index and private payroll data, which provided a mixed outlook on the health of the labor market. While the services sector remains resilient, cooling employment figures have sparked a rotation out of high-growth tech and cyclical retail names toward defensive industrial and healthcare stocks.
Leading the gainers today is 3M Company (MMM), which rose 3.70% to $148.62 following positive sentiment regarding its ongoing restructuring efforts. In the semiconductor space, Nvidia (NVDA) gained 1.77% to reach $225.01, benefiting from continued demand for AI infrastructure despite broader market uncertainty. Other notable performers include Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), which was up 1.61% at $227.63, and Cisco Systems (CSCO), climbing 1.33% to $100.48 as investors sought stability in established tech giants.
Conversely, the market faced downward pressure from the enterprise software and retail sectors. IBM (IBM) was down 2.42% at $213.40, leading the laggards as cautious corporate spending forecasts weighed on the stock. Home Depot (HD) also struggled, falling 2.14% to $303.85 amid concerns that a slowing housing market could dampen consumer discretionary spending. Additionally, Salesforce (CRM) was down 1.64% and Sherwin-Williams (SHW) dropped 1.36%, as the Dow continues to navigate a complex landscape of shifting interest rate expectations and fluctuating economic indicators.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.