04:01 PM EDT, 09/30/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes ended higher Monday as markets assessed the latest remarks by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

* Powell said monetary policy is "not on any preset course" and that it will move toward a more neutral stance over time if the economy evolves as projected.

* "The risks are two-sided, and we will continue to make our decisions meeting by meeting," Powell said. "As we consider additional policy adjustments, we will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks."

* Earlier this month, the Fed lowered interest rates by 50 basis points versus a Bloomberg-compiled consensus indicating a 25-basis-point cut.

* Official data are likely to show Friday that the US economy added 180,000 jobs this month, compared with Wall Street's views for a gain of 130,000, UBS said in a note emailed Monday. The consensus is for growth of 146,000 jobs in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. UBS expects the unemployment rate to hold steady at 4.2%, in line with the Street's projections.

"The main upside risk to the unemployment rate projection we see is that household survey employment has improved, and risen in three straight months," the brokerage wrote. "We may be due for some weakness."

* November West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed down $0.01 to settle at $68.17 per barrel, while December Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $0.21 to $71.77 as weak demand from China and concerns over rising supply offset worries over a widening Middle East war as Israel steps up attacks on Lebanese militia groups.

* CVS Health's ( CVS ) leadership is facing a challenge by shareholder Glenview Capital in what could be the start of a push to oust management, news outlets reported, citing unnamed sources. CVS shares were up 2.7%

* Boeing ( BA ) shares were down 2.7%. The plane maker's pay-related deal talks with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers broke off and no further dates for negotiations were scheduled, the union said Friday in a post on X.