U.S. stock futures rose sharply on Monday after the Senate voted in favor of a bill aimed at ending the long-lasting government shutdown, also prompting gains for gold and crude oil. The COP30 climate conference begins later in the session, Pfizer has won the bidding war for obesity drug developer Metsera.
U.S. Shutdown Breakthrough Sparks Global Optimism
Global markets started the week with solid gains after the U.S. Senate made tangible progress toward ending the longest government shutdown in American history. The news lifted investor sentiment worldwide, pushing up U.S. stock futures, gold, and crude oil on Monday.
On Sunday evening, lawmakers voted 60–40 in favor of advancing a spending bill that would keep the federal government funded through January 30, 2026. The bipartisan measure received support from eight Democratic senators who backed a Republican plan that includes commitments to reinstate furloughed federal workers and extend certain healthcare subsidies.
The bill still requires a final Senate vote before heading to the House of Representatives and, eventually, to President Donald Trump for his signature. Nonetheless, Sunday’s vote marked the most significant step yet toward resolving a political impasse that has stretched into its 40th day.
This marks the 15th U.S. government shutdown since 1981 and the second under President Trump, with economists estimating tens of billions of dollars in lost GDP due to halted operations and reduced consumer spending.
U.S. Futures Rise Sharply on Shutdown Progress
Investors reacted positively to the breakthrough, with U.S. stock futures trading notably higher in early Monday action. At 03:00 ET, S&P 500 futures were up 0.7%, Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 1.3%, and Dow Jones futures advanced 0.2%.
The rally comes after a volatile week on Wall Street, where the NASDAQ Composite lost 3%, the S&P 500 fell 1.6%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 1.2%—their worst performance since April.
The prolonged shutdown had already dented consumer confidence, with sentiment falling to its lowest level in nearly three and a half years in early November. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett cautioned that if the shutdown were to persist much longer, the U.S. economy could contract in the fourth quarter, potentially shaking global growth prospects.
COP30 Summit Opens in Brazil
While political developments in Washington dominated headlines, attention also turned to Belém, Brazil, where the COP30 climate summit officially opened on Monday. The event, taking place at the mouth of the Amazon River, marks 30 years since the start of international climate negotiations that led to the 1992 U.N. Climate Treaty.
Delegates are expected to debate how to accelerate emissions reductions and prevent what scientists warn could be severe climate impacts in the coming decades. However, tensions are likely to rise as the Trump administration has decided not to send any senior representatives and has reiterated its intention to withdraw from the treaty, raising questions about U.S. commitment to global climate goals.
Pfizer Wins $10 Billion Battle for Metsera
In corporate news, Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) has emerged victorious in a $10 billion acquisition of Metsera, an obesity-drug developer, after an intense bidding war with Danish rival Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO).
Metsera accepted Pfizer’s sweetened offer late Friday, citing potential antitrust hurdles associated with Novo’s proposal. The Danish pharmaceutical giant confirmed on Saturday that it would withdraw from the race, clearing the way for Pfizer to close the deal.
The acquisition provides Pfizer with a strategic entry into the fast-growing obesity drug market, a sector analysts expect to reach $150 billion globally by the next decade. The move also strengthens Pfizer’s position against competitors such as Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY), which currently dominates the obesity treatment space.
Gold Surges Past $4,000; Oil Prices Rebound
Gold prices rallied sharply on Monday, surpassing the $4,000 per ounce mark as the U.S. dollar weakened and traders maintained bets that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by 25 basis points in December. Spot gold climbed 1.9% to $4,077.00 an ounce, while futures gained 1.9% to $4,085.65.
Meanwhile, oil prices advanced amid optimism that an end to the U.S. shutdown could revive demand in the world’s largest oil-consuming nation. Brent crude rose 0.8% to $64.11 per barrel, and WTI gained 0.9% to $60.28.
Both benchmarks fell around 2% last week, marking a second consecutive weekly decline after OPEC+ announced plans to slightly raise production in December but pause further hikes in early 2026 to prevent a potential oversupply.