Markets closed out last week on solid footing. Here's where things stand heading into a busy stretch of data and earnings.

Where We Left Off

Friday's close, according to Yahoo Finance: S&P 500 at 7,743.41, up 0.51%. Dow at 51,828.62, up 0.93%. Nasdaq at 27,068.72, up 0.48%. Russell 2000 at 2,837.55, up 0.07%.

The VIX dropped more than 5% to close near 14.87, which tells you options traders aren't pricing in much fear right now. December S&P futures are trading modestly higher heading into the week, but the real story is what's on the calendar below.

The Calendar This Week

All times ET.

📅 Monday 9/28 No economic data scheduled. Earnings: Jeffries Financial Group (JEF), Vail Resorts (MTN), both after the close.

📅 Tuesday 9/29 Conference Board Consumer Confidence, 10:00 AM. JOLTS report, 10:00 AM. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee speaks at 1:00 PM. Earnings: Carnival (CCL) and CarMax (KMX) before the open. Concentrix (CNXC) after the close.

📅 Wednesday 9/30 This is the heaviest data day of the week. ADP National Employment Report, GDP third estimate, trade balance, wholesale and retail inventories, personal income, and consumer spending all land at 8:30 AM. That last one includes the Fed's preferred inflation gauge. Earnings: Conagra (CAG), Jabil (JBL), and FactSet (FDS) before the open. Micron (MU) and Progress Software (PRGS) after the close.

📅 Thursday 10/1 Weekly jobless claims, 8:30 AM. Manufacturing PMI, 9:45 AM. Construction spending, 10:00 AM. Earnings: Accenture (ACN) and McCormick (MKC) before the open. Nike after the close.

📅 Friday 10/2 The Employment Report and unemployment rate hit at 8:30 AM. Factory orders follow at 10:00 AM. No earnings scheduled.

What We're Watching Most

Wednesday carries the most data of any single day this week, and the personal income and spending report is the one that matters most for rate expectations. Thursday's Manufacturing PMI sets the tone heading into Friday. And Friday's jobs report is usually the single biggest mover of the week, so don't be surprised if things stay quiet until then.

On earnings, Micron and Nike are the two names worth circling. Micron gives us a read on chip demand, Nike gives us a read on the consumer.

Bottom Line

Slow start to the week, only two names report Monday and there's no data on the calendar. Things pick up fast starting Tuesday and build through Friday's jobs number. Watch the calendar as much as you watch the chart this week.

This is general market commentary for informational purposes only. It is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything. Data sourced from Yahoo Finance and public earnings calendars. Always verify current levels before making any trading decisions.