US: Stocks rally on slowing job gains, global markets mixed

US STOCKS rose on Friday (Nov 3) after data showed US job growth cooled in October, easing concerns about further interest rate hikes.

Oil prices fell on profit taking despite a softer dollar, which usually boosts demand for crude. Gold prices climbed.

While the 150,000 jobs added to the US economy was partly impacted by the US auto strike, it was still less than what analysts had forecast and down from a revised 297,000 in September.

The slower jobs growth reported Friday by the Labor Department “has further cemented expectations that the (Federal Reserve) has reached peak interest rates,” said market analyst Fawad Razaqzada at City Index and forex.com.

After a fallow two months, equity markets recovered some of their mojo after the US central bank Wednesday left borrowing costs on hold for a second straight meeting and hinted that no more increases were likely.

While Fed boss Jerome Powell left the door open for another rise as officials battle to sustainably bring down inflation, traders were skeptical, with elevated US bond yields seen acting as a substitute for more tightening.

“It seems silly to cheer weakening activity in the labor market, but the key takeaway from this report is that it resonates as a ‘soft landing report’ that will keep the Fed from raising the fed funds rate again,” said Briefing.com’s Patrick O’Hare.

Powell said the Fed was not thinking about cutting rates right now.

“Yet the market is embracing the thought that this employment data could mean the Fed is at least a step closer to starting to think about cutting rates,” O’Hare added.

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Meanwhile the latest surveys of US business activity “painted the picture of consumers who are feeling the pinch following two years of inflation and rapidly rising interest rates,” said Craig Erlam at Oanda.

Wall Street’s three main indices moved higher, with the Dow ending 0.7 per cent up.

European stocks failed to hold onto gains, closing mixed.

Asian equity indices rallied, catching up with strong gains Thursday on Wall Street and Europe after the Fed and Bank of England maintained their interest rates as global inflation cools.

Apple shares ended 0.5 per cent down after the company reported that sales fell year-on-year for a fourth quarter in a row, although profits rose.

Briefing.com’s O’Hare said the disappointment was tied to the sales guidance for this quarter which works out to a five percent decline in real terms. AFP