US stocks plunged on Friday as investors digested the ultimate jobs report of 2024. The information blew past expectations on hiring, raising more uncertainty concerning the path of rates of interest this yr.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) sank about 1.6%, or near 700 points, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) also fell 1.5%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) tumbled 1.6%. The three major gauges erased all year-to-date gains with Friday’s pullback.
The Dow lost 1.1% for the week, the S&P gave up 0.7%, and the Nasdaq decreased by 0.6%.
The December nonfarm payrolls report showed a really healthy labor market: The US economy added over 250,000 jobs within the month, while the unemployment rate fell to 4.1%. That is the excellent news. The less excellent news is that the strong reading could prompt the Fed to maintain rates higher for longer, some on Wall Street consider.
The ten-year Treasury yield (^TNX) continued a recent uptick on Friday, moving closer to 4.8% to the touch its highest levels since late 2023.
At close: 4:20:00 PM EST
^DJI ^IXIC ^GSPC
Investors were also hit with fresh data that showed consumers are more pessimistic about future pricing pressures. In keeping with a latest reading Friday from the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index, year-ahead inflation expectations rose from 2.8% last month to three.3% this month. The present reading is the best since May 2024. Long-run inflation expectations also ticked up from 3% in December to three.3% in January.
In recent days, Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other officials have made it clear they’re slowing down on lowering rates. Amid that tone and after the roles showing, markets are pricing in no easing before July, per the CME FedWatch Tool.
Meanwhile, investors welcomed a clutch of upbeat earnings to begin the yr. Walgreens (WBA) posted a primary quarter profit beat, an indication the healthcare company’s turnaround efforts are paying off. Shares rose over 20%. Delta (DAL) stock jumped greater than 9% after a record yr for travel fueled a fourth quarter profit beat and record annual revenue. The massive banks are scheduled to post earnings next week.
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For stocks, a laundry list of gloom
The blowout jobs report is the largest perpetrator for stocks getting hammered without delay — with an assist from worries about inflation.
But within the background, a laundry list of other worries is adding to the gloom. A rundown of just a few:
And essentially the most unsettling of all: uncertainty about Trump’s sweeping policy agenda and its impact, especially tariffs.
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