On Friday afternoon, the US markets showed resilience, with a mix of unchanged and mostly higher trends following the release of the latest employment data by the government. Economists noted that the labor market remains robust, albeit showing signs of a slowdown as it transitions back to a more sustainable pace after a period of rapid growth in recent years.
Market sentiment was positive as traders reacted optimistically to a slight increase in the unemployment rate, interpreting it as a potential signal for the Federal Reserve to consider lowering interest rates later in the year. This outlook was echoed by Rick Rieder, BlackRock's chief investment officer of global fixed income, who highlighted the shift towards a more normalized job market environment.
The S&P 500 index continued its upward trajectory, poised to achieve another record high, while all major indexes were on course to end the week on a positive note. The Dow experienced a minor dip of 0.1%, equivalent to a 50-point decrease, while the S&P 500 saw a 0.4% increase. The Nasdaq outperformed, registering a notable 0.8% gain, further contributing to the overall positive market sentiment.
