The S&P 500 is awaiting a broad batch of delayed employment, retail sales and inflation releases that could determine whether a year-end rally gathers momentum or a market correction takes hold.Analysts Jay Woods and Mark Zandi say positive surprises could lift the index toward 7,000 points, while disappointing results have already pushed investors from heavyweight technology names such as Oracle and Broadcom into more traditional sectors.The data are especially consequential because a prolonged
government shutdown postponed key reports, leaving the
Federal Reserve and investors with limited clarity as they position portfolios into the end of the year.