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Fed Shockwaves Send Markets Lower as Metals Tumble

  U.S. stocks finished a volatile week in the red as the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all slipped on Friday, reflecting renewed anxiety across financial markets. The downturn followed President Trump’s decision to tap former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh as his preferred choice to lead the central bank — a move that immediately stirred debate about the future path of interest rates. Warsh has historically leaned hawkish, though he has more recently echoed Trump’s calls for rate cuts. That mixed record left investors uncertain about how aggressively the Fed might act under his leadership, especially at a time when inflation pressures and uneven economic data continue to shape the outlook. The dollar strengthened on expectations of a more assertive Fed stance, adding further weight to commodities. Metals saw some of the sharpest fallout. Gold, which had surged earlier in the month, dropped sharply and broke below a key psychological threshold. Silver also suffered a steep decl...
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Resilient Workforce: U.S. Jobless Claims Dip to 213,000 Amid Stability

 

The latest data from the U.S. Labor Department shows that initial jobless claims fell by 7,000 to 213,000 for the week ending February 8, outperforming economists’ expectations of 215,000. This decline is a positive indicator of a robust labor market, where layoffs remain historically low, despite ongoing economic uncertainties. 

Complementing this data, January’s employment report revealed an increase of 143,000 nonfarm payroll jobs, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.0%. These figures suggest that businesses are largely retaining their workforce, a factor that has enabled the Federal Reserve to pause further interest rate cuts as it assesses economic conditions. 

While some sectors are experiencing isolated job cuts amid persistent inflation and cautious corporate strategies, the overall picture points to a stable and resilient labor market. The sustained strength in job retention continues to support economic expansion, even as policymakers and businesses navigate a complex economic landscape.

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