Stocks look for momentum; Twitter CEO finally here?; Walmart job cuts looming

Investors look to build on the momentum of yesterday's last day of trading in the third quarter...a quarter which saw the S&P 500 (^GSPC) fall almost 7%, the worst 3-month decline for Wall Street since 2011.

Yahoo Finance Senior Columnist Michael Santoli believes stocks will be driven now by what investors think about the economic climate in the fourth quarter.

"The market is trying to figure out whether it it really has to further downgrade U.S. growth and corporate profits going into next year," he says. "There's a wide range of opinions surrounding what is going to be the consensus opinion on that."

Speaking of economic growth, investors are awaiting tomorrow's key September jobs report. Ahead of that data, the Labor Department said weekly unemployment claims came in at 277,000, a bit above economists' forecasts.

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Twitter CEO...Day 2

Here are some of the stocks the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today.

Twitter (TWTR) The stock in focus again today after jumping more than 5% yesterday when tech news website Re/code reported company co-founder and interim CEO Jack Dorsey would be given the top job permanently. Re/code says Dorsey would also continue in his role as CEO of digital payment firm Square.  Neither company has commented publicly on the report.

ConAgra Foods (CAG) The maker of Hunt's Ketchup and other well-known foods is announcing a major restructuring.  ConAgra will cut 1500 jobs...or 30% of of its office workforce.  And it's moving its headquarters from Omaha to Chicago.  Conagra says the changes are aimed at cutting costs by $300 million over 3 years.

McCormick & Company (MKC) The spice maker is reporting a fiscal third quarter profit that fell short of analysts' estimates...while revenue met expectations. McCormick is singing a common corporate refrain this year-- blaming the strong dollar for putting a drag on sales.  And because of currency issues, the company says it now expects full-year earnings to be at the low end of its anticipated range.

Performance Food Group (PFGC) Renaissance Capital says the country's third biggest food service provider priced shares at $19 each in its initial public offering last night...well below the anticipated $22 to $25 range.  That would give Performance Food Group a market cap of $2 billion.  It will trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol P-F-G-C.

Generac (GNRC) The maker of portable generators got a more than 10% bump yesterday as tropical storm Joaquin was upgraded to a hurricane as it moves up the Atlantic. Forecasters remain unsure what impact the now category-3 storm could have on the East Coast.  Generac shares often rise when big storms approach and threaten to knock out power.

Verisk Analytics (VRSK)  The data analytics and risk management firm will be joining the S&P 500 index at the close of trading October 7th. Verisk will replace mining equipment company Joy Global, which is moving to the S&P midcap 400 index.

Walmart job cuts

There’s more pain at Walmart (WMT). Various reports say the company will lay off hundreds of workers at its corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. Back in August, the retailer reported weaker quarterly earnings and lowered its profit forecast.

Now to another big jobs-related development. The United Auto Workers union members have rejected a proposed contract negotiated with Fiat Chrysler (FCAU). It’s a stunning blow for union leadership, as the deal would have served as a template for striking deals with other automakers.

Gambling regulators in New Jersey are taking a big step toward legitimizing online betting. The state’s gaming agency is giving the OK to Amaya Incorporated’s (AYA) PokerStars and Full Tilt brands to operate in the state. PokerStars is the world's biggest online poker site.

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