|

S&P 500 Index renews record high above 3,680 despite disappointing NFP data

  • Wall Street's main indexes post small gains after the opening bell.
  • Nonfarm Payrolls in the US rose less than expected in November.
  • S&P 500 Energy Index is up nearly 3% on Friday.

Major equity indexes started the last day of the week in the positive territory as investors largely ignored the disappointing November labor market report. As of writing, The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.36% on the day at 30,075, the S&P 500 was gaining 0.35% at 3,683 (new record high) and the Nasdaq Composite was advancing 0.05% at 12,473.

The monthly data published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics showed on Friday that Nonfarm Payrolls in November rose by 245,000, compared to analysts estimate of 469,000. Additionally, the Labor Force Participation Rate declined to 61.5% from 61.7% and the annual wage inflation remained unchanged at +4.4%.

Among the 11 major S&P 500 sectors, the Energy Index is up nearly 3% after the opening bell supported by a moderate increase in crude oil prices. On the other hand, the Communication Services Index is the only sector that is in the negative territory.

S&P 500 chart (daily)

Author

Eren Sengezer

As an economist at heart, Eren Sengezer specializes in the assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of macroeconomic data, central bank policies and political developments on financial assets.

More from Eren Sengezer
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD rebounds after falling toward 1.1700

EUR/USD gains traction and trades above 1.1730 in the American session, looking to end the week virtually unchanged. The bullish opening in Wall Street makes it difficult for the US Dollar to preserve its recovery momentum and helps the pair rebound heading into the weekend.

GBP/USD steadies below 1.3400 as traders assess BoE policy outlook

Following Thursday's volatile session, GBP/USD moves sideways below 1.3400 on Friday. Investors reassess the Bank of England's policy oıtlook after the MPC decided to cut the interest rate by 25 bps by a slim margin. Meanwhile, the improving risk mood helps the pair hold its ground.

Gold stays below $4,350, looks to post small weekly gains

Gold struggles to gather recovery momentum and stays below $4,350 in the second half of the day on Friday, as the benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield edges higher. Nevertheless, the precious metal remains on track to end the week with modest gains as markets gear up for the holiday season.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP rebound amid bearish market conditions

Bitcoin (BTC) is edging higher, trading above $88,000 at the time of writing on Monday. Altcoins, including Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP), are following in BTC’s footsteps, experiencing relief rebounds following a volatile week.

How much can one month of soft inflation change the Fed’s mind?

One month of softer inflation data is rarely enough to shift Federal Reserve policy on its own, but in a market highly sensitive to every data point, even a single reading can reshape expectations. November’s inflation report offered a welcome sign of cooling price pressures. 

XRP rebounds amid ETF inflows and declining retail demand demand

XRP rebounds as bulls target a short-term breakout above $2.00 on Friday. XRP ETFs record the highest inflow since December 8, signaling growing institutional appetite.