The Market Brief
Hey team. U.S. futures edged higher ahead of the U.S. jobs report, which will provide important clues about where the economy is heading.
Let’s recap the last session and see what’s ahead!
Impact Snapshot
🟥 Non-Farm Payrolls - 8:30am
🟥 Unemployment Rate - 8:30am
Macro Viewpoint
Global stock markets edged higher during early Friday, boosted by growing optimism about a possible easing of trade tensions between the United States and China.
The S&P 500 has now posted gains for eight straight days — its longest winning streak since August.
Much of this momentum is tied to hopes that the trade conflict between the two countries may be cooling, following President Trump’s introduction of steep new tariffs last month.
In the first quarter of the year, the U.S. economy contracted, partly because businesses rushed to import goods before the tariffs took effect.
At the same time, inflation remained high, raising concerns about stagflation — a mix of slow growth and rising prices — which limits how much the Federal Reserve can do to support the economy.
We’re now closely watching the upcoming jobs data for clues about how much damage the trade war may have caused. Bets are rising the Federal Reserve will be forced to accelerate interest rate cuts to head off an economic slowdown.
