Worst week since March | Chances for year-end comeback | Cramer's election playbook

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite all posted on Friday their biggest weekly declines since March.

VIEW IN BROWSER | SUBSCRIBE SAT, OCT 31, 2020 WEEKEND BRIEF EDITOR'S NOTE Wall Street will ask for just one thing next week: clarity.   The U.S. presidential election will take place on Tuesday and investors hope there will be a clear-cut winner from the vote, thus removing the uncertainty of a contested — or delayed — election result, writes CNBC's Patti Domm.   "If there's no clear winner, it will be negative for risk assets...The market is really worried about not having clarity after the election. They're worried about it dragging out for weeks as the results are contested," said Ian Lyngen, head of U.S. rates strategy at BMO.   Wall Street is also concerned about the outcome of several Senate races. Some investors believe that a "Blue Wave" — a scenario in which the Democrats win the White House, obtain a Senate majority and retain control of the House — would be market positive because it would facilitate the passing of a much-needed big fiscal stimulus.   Democrats and Republicans failed this week to move forward with a new fiscal aid package before the election, pressuring the broader stock market along with a recent rise in coronavirus cases.   The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite all posted on Friday their biggest weekly declines since March. They also fell for a second straight month as the daily average rate of new U.S. coronavirus cases hit an all-time high.   "There is growing concern in the U.S. that restrictions may also be necessary, as case counts have increased along with hospitalization rates," said Katie Nixon, CIO at Northern Trust Wealth Management. "Whether the restrictions are mandated or simply the behavioral reaction of consumers to rising cases, this presents a notable economic headwind."   Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world. Fred Imbert | CNBC Markets Reporter @foimbert MICHAEL SANTOLI'S MARKET COLUMN As the market falls and investor fear builds, assessing the odds of a year-end comeback   THE WEEK AHEAD Investors are hoping for a clear presidential and Senate election outcome to end the sell-off   ACTIVIST SPOTLIGHT Activist tries to shore up support for CEO attempting to turn around troubled coal company   YOUR WEEKEND BRIEFING  Cramer's week ahead: 'One of the most confusing weeks of my career' How President Donald Trump got to Election Day in a turbulent 2020 Biden has an ambitious climate policy — Here's what it means for alternative energy stocks Inspire Brands to buy Dunkin' Brands Group for $11.3 billion including debt U.S. only at 'the beginning of the steep part' of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Scott Gottlieb says Apple says some AirPods Pro have sound problems, will replace for free     Unsubscribe Manage Newsletters Terms of Service Join the CNBC Panel Digital Products Feedback Privacy Policy   © 2020 CNBC LLC. All rights reserved. A property of NBCUniversal. 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes and Market Data and Analysis. Data also provided by THOMSON REUTERS