Recent job cut announcements and mixed macroeconomic data have prompted cautious optimism in US markets, with investors scaling back expectations of a December Federal Reserve rate cut. Labor indicators remain resilient but uneven, suggesting slower momentum in cyclical hiring. Market participants said policymakers may maintain a wait-and-see stance until inflation metrics show clearer moderation. Treasury yields steadied, and equities traded narrowly as traders weighed tightening credit conditions. Economists predict that further rate easing will depend on wage growth trends and consumer-spending durability through winter.