September has historically been a troublesome month for U.S. stocks. In fact, it has the lowest average return out of all 12 months going back to 1950. So far, September 2018 is off to a tough start, with the S&P 500 down all four days so far this month. Only twice in history has the S&P 500 fallen the first 4 days of September, in 1987 and 2001. (LPL)

Nonfarm payrolls rose 201K in August, The unemployment rate (3.9%) remained near its lowest level since 2000. Overall, job growth is slowing, which is expected this late in the cycle, but the labor market remains solid. Average hourly earnings rose 2.9% year over year, its fastest pace of growth in this economic cycle. (LPL)

The Institute for Supply Management's (ISM's) Non-Manufacturing (Services) Index climbed to 58.5 in August, one of its highest readings of the economic cycle. Purchasing Managers Index, a gauge of manufacturing health, rose to a 14-year high last month. With the services and manufacturing sectors firing on all cylinders, the U.S. economy could be poised for another strong quarter of economic growth. (LPL)

Costco says same store sales rose 9.5 percent in August. (Yahoo Finance)

S&P 500 is up 14 and the NASDAQ is up 37. The MSCI international index is lower.

Oil is up 29 cents at $68.04 a barrel.

Gold is down $3 at $1198 a Troy ounce.