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Wall Street Futures Edge Higher as Soft Jobs Data Fuels Rate-Cut Hopes

  US stock futures ticked upward on Wednesday, extending Wall Street’s rebound as investors digested a weaker-than-expected ADP employment report. The data showed a surprise decline in private-sector payrolls, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve may move forward with an interest rate cut at its upcoming December meeting. Market Performance Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose about 0.2%, adding 80 points to 47,624. S&P 500 futures gained 9.25 points to 6,849.50, up 0.14%. Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 25.50 points to 25,631.50, a 0.10% increase. Key Drivers The ADP jobs report revealed a drop in private-sector employment, signaling cooling labor market conditions. This bolstered investor confidence that the Fed will ease monetary policy, with markets pricing in nearly 88% odds of a rate cut next week. Tech stocks continued to provide momentum, with Nvidia and Marvell edging higher. Crypto-linked stocks surged, with PMAX up 67%, CMCT up 30%, a...

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US Economy Adds 175,000 Jobs in April, Unemployment Rate Edges Up


The latest data from the Labor Department reveals that the US economy added 175,000 jobs in April. While this marks a solid gain, it falls short of the 240,000 jobs that economists had anticipated. Here are the key facts and figures:

  1. Job Creation: The US job market has been expanding at a robust pace despite 11 rate hikes from the Federal Reserve aimed at slowing down the economy. In March, the economy added an impressive 315,000 jobs, well above expectations. However, April’s figure of 175,000 indicates a firm slowdown in job growth.

  2. Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 3.9%, compared to the estimated 3.8%. While this increase is modest, it highlights the ongoing challenges in the labor market.

  3. Wage Gains: Workers’ wage gains continue to outpace inflation, providing some relief amid rising living costs. However, the pace of wage bumps has slowed, which could impact the Federal Reserve’s efforts to manage inflation.

Despite the April slowdown, the US economy has maintained a remarkable streak of 40 consecutive months of employment expansion, making it the fifth longest such period on record. Additionally, the nation’s jobless rate has held below 4% for 26 consecutive months.

Investors are closely monitoring these developments, as any further signs of a slowdown could prompt the central bank to consider a rate cut sooner than expected. For now, markets anticipate the first cut to occur in November or December.

In summary, while the US job market remains resilient, the April report suggests a need for continued vigilance as economic conditions evolve.

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