Dow closes over 200 points higher as jobs report tops expectations
A stronger-than-expected jobs report pushed stocks higher on Friday as Wall Street recovered some of the losses seen in the previous session. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 219.37 points to close at 24,635.21, with Goldman Sachs rising 1.1 percent.
The S&P 500 gained 1.1 percent to finish at 2,734.21 as financials and tech rose 1.1 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Nasdaq composite advanced 1.5 percent to 7,554.33 with Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google-parent Alphabet all rising. The move higher on those stocks also helped the NYSE FANG ETF (NYFANG) reach an all-time high. Apple also rose 1.8 percent to post a record closing high.
The U.S. economy added 223,000 jobs in May, while economists polled by Reuters expected a gain of 188,000. Average hourly earnings, meanwhile, rose 0.3 percent last month while the unemployment rate ticked down to 3.8 percent.
“Today’s jobs numbers pack a wallop,” said Mike Loewengart, vice president of investment strategy at E-Trade. But “with significant year-over-year wage gains, the inflation fears of February could pick up steam again, which could bring a chorus of Fed hawks squawking for more rate hikes.”
“These numbers could serve as a wake-up call that our economy is hustling despite geopolitics, but that could also bring added volatility as market participants adjust their expectations for increased Fed action,” he said.
Expectations for a rate hike in December ticked up following the report’s release, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch tool.
“On the margin, this report helps the Fed stay on plan, which we believe is to raise rates four times,” said Jason Thomas, chief economist at AssetMark, adding: “we don’t think they need too much help to move forward with this plan” given how strong the economy has been.
U.S. President Donald Trump touted the report ahead of its release, saying in a tweet: “Looking forward to seeing the employment numbers at 8:30 this morning.”
Treasury yields jumped on the report, with the benchmark 10-year yield trading at 2.89 percent and the two-year yield rising to 2.47 percent.
Bank stocks followed rates higher. J.P. Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America all rose at least 1 percent.
Friday’s gains come as stocks fell Thursday after Trump slapped tariffs on the European Union, Mexico and Canada. The EU threatened the same, saying it would impose countermeasures of its own, while Canada Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said the country plans to slap dollar-for-dollar tariffs on the U.S.
Trump’s tariffs sent stocks lower, with the Dow closing 251 points lower on Thursday. Mexican and Canadian stocks also fell.
The news on tariffs comes at a time when the U.S., Canada and Mexico continue negotiations on a new trade agreement. Trump has railed against the current trade deal between the three countries, NAFTA, calling it the worst ever.
“NAFTA is the most important matter when it comes to trade and [these tariffs] don’t help,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley FBR. “It’s like punching your friend in the face and then asking him to go to the movies.”
Source: CNBC
