Stocks Rise as Investors Digest Data, But Growth Concerns Persist

U.S. stock indices finished higher on Wednesday as investors digested economic data. The Nasdaq gained 1.45% while the Dow rose 0.38%.

Non-manufacturing PMI fell to 53.6 in September, indicating slowing expansion in the services sector. The employment component also dropped.

U.S. futures declined early Wednesday following higher than expected job openings data on Tuesday. Concerns remain about the Fed's rate hikes.

Asia-Pacific markets were mixed on Wednesday, with Japan's Nikkei down 2.28% but China's Shanghai Composite up 0.10%.

Netflix and Spotify made news on their pricing and product strategies, while Meta is reportedly planning more layoffs.