Tag: US Jobs Report

  • FTSE 100 Rises 16.66 Points to 10,884.55 as Oil Prices Firm and US Jobs Report Looms

    FTSE 100 Rises 16.66 Points to 10,884.55 as Oil Prices Firm and US Jobs Report Looms

    The FTSE 100 traded 16.66 points higher at 10,884.55 on Friday, as investors assessed fresh US trade measures, firmer oil prices, and prepared for the release of the US jobs report later in the day. Brent crude futures rose 0.91% to $83.24 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell 0.57% to $77.73 per barrel.

    Sterling was quoted at $1.3452 early Friday, slightly lower than $1.3454 at the London equities close on Thursday. Against the euro, sterling fell marginally to €1.1674 from €1.1675 a day prior.

    Gainers & Losers

    On the upside, Fresnillo surged 2.74% to 2,813p. Convatec Group advanced 2.73% to 233p, while BAE Systems climbed 1.68% to 2,237p. London Stock Exchange Group gained 1.53% to 8,884p, Diageo rose 1.47% to 1,758p, and AstraZeneca added 1.38% to 12,014p.

    On the downside, Severn Trent fell 1.03% to 3,084p. Whitbread declined 0.87% to 2,506p, while Antofagasta slipped 0.76% to 3,944p. 3i Group eased 0.73% to 2,850p, Shell dropped 0.59% to 3,295.5p, and Unilever edged 0.40% lower to 4,690p.

    Oxford Biomedica Cuts Profit Forecast

    Oxford Biomedica has slashed its revenue target for the year by nearly £40 million after slowing customer appetite. The firm has lowered its revenue forecast for the full year to £180 million to £200 million, from between £220 million and £240 million, given a drop in demand from clients.

    The medical company said the ‘short-term impact’ is driven by customers opting to delay signing contracts for the year, resulting from changes in the clients’ clinical data or their strategy. Dr. Frank Mathias, chief executive officer of Oxford Biomedica, said despite the profit warning, “we remain confident about OXB’s future as we continue to expand our market position in the growing cell and gene therapy sector and support our clients in delivering life-changing therapies to patients.”

    JD Sports Appoints Former IKEA Boss as Chair

    JD Sports has named the former boss of Ikea as its new chair. The retailer said on Friday Peter Agnefjäll would take the post, succeeding Darren Shapland, who has served in the role on an interim basis. Agnefjäll’s recruitment follows Andy Higginson quitting as chair in April ahead of his tenure finishing in July. He said he was “proud of his time” at the company, in which JD oversaw a “tough period” in the sportswear market and expanded the brand in the US.

    Meta Fined $567 Million Over Child Safety

    Meta has been ordered by a New Mexico judge to pay $567 million (£421 million) for failing to protect children against online harms on its platforms. In the ruling handed down on Friday, US Judge Bryan Biedscheid said the tech giant is a “public nuisance” and compared the WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram owner to air pollution. The new fine is in addition to a $375 million penalty the tech company was already ordered to pay in damages in March after a jury ruled Meta had intentionally impacted children’s mental health, hiking the total penalty to nearly $1 billion.

    Global Market View

    In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average pulled back from its record high as higher Treasury yields dampened sentiment. The Dow fell 0.9%, the S&P 500 slipped 0.2%, and the Nasdaq edged 0.1% lower.

    In Asia on Friday, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.12% to 65,606.71, while China’s Shanghai Composite gained 1.02%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 0.45%, and South Korea’s Kospi edged lower by 0.6%. In India, both the Nifty 50 and the Sensex fell by 0.31% and 0.53%, respectively.

  • FTSE 100 Rises 16.66 Points to 10,884.55 as Oil Prices Support and Investors Focus on US Jobs Data

    FTSE 100 Rises 16.66 Points to 10,884.55 as Oil Prices Support and Investors Focus on US Jobs Data

    The FTSE 100 traded 16.66 points higher at 10,884.55 on Friday, as investors assessed fresh US trade measures, firmer oil prices, and awaited the US jobs report later in the day. Brent crude futures rose 0.91% to $83.24 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell 0.57% to $77.73 per barrel.

    Sterling was quoted at $1.3452 early Friday, slightly lower than $1.3454 at the London equities close on Thursday. Against the euro, sterling fell marginally to €1.1674 from €1.1675 a day prior.

    Gainers & Losers

    On the upside, Fresnillo surged 2.74% to 2,813p. Convatec Group advanced 2.73% to 233p, while BAE Systems climbed 1.68% to 2,237p. London Stock Exchange Group gained 1.53% to 8,884p, Diageo rose 1.47% to 1,758p, and AstraZeneca added 1.38% to 12,014p.

    On the downside, Severn Trent fell 1.03% to 3,084p. Whitbread declined 0.87% to 2,506p, while Antofagasta slipped 0.76% to 3,944p. 3i Group eased 0.73% to 2,850p, Shell dropped 0.59% to 3,295.5p, and Unilever edged 0.40% lower to 4,690p.

    Oxford Biomedica Cuts Profit Forecast

    Oxford Biomedica slashed its revenue target for the year by nearly £40 million after slower customer demand. The firm lowered its full-year revenue forecast to £180 million to £200 million, from between £220 million and £240 million, due to clients delaying contract signings. CEO Dr. Frank Mathias said despite the profit warning, the company remains confident about its future in the cell and gene therapy sector.

    JD Sports Appoints Former IKEA Boss as Chair

    JD Sports named Peter Agnefjäll, the former CEO of IKEA, as its new chair, succeeding interim chair Darren Shapland. Agnefjäll’s appointment follows Andy Higginson’s resignation in April. Higginson noted he was proud of his tenure during a tough period in the sportswear market and the brand’s US expansion.

    Meta Fined $567 Million in New Mexico

    A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million (£421 million) for failing to protect children against online harms on its platforms. Judge Bryan Biedscheid described the tech giant as a “public nuisance” and compared it to air pollution. This fine adds to a $375 million penalty imposed in March, bringing total penalties to nearly $1 billion.

    Global Market Overview

    In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.9% from its record high, the S&P 500 slipped 0.2%, and the Nasdaq edged 0.1% lower amid higher Treasury yields. In Asia, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.12%, while China’s Shanghai Composite gained 1.02%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng advanced 0.45%, and South Korea’s Kospi edged lower by 0.6%. In India, both the Nifty 50 and the Sensex fell by 0.31% and 0.53%, respectively.

    Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always conduct your own research before making any investment decisions.

  • US Job Growth Plummets to 57,000 in June as Hiring Slows and Unemployment Steady at 4.2%

    US Job Growth Plummets to 57,000 in June as Hiring Slows and Unemployment Steady at 4.2%

    The latest US jobs report reveals a sharp slowdown in hiring during June, with employers adding only 57,000 nonfarm payrolls—well below market expectations. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%, but the figure masks a decline in labor force participation, as fewer Americans remained in the job market.

    June’s hiring total dropped by more than half from May, reflecting growing caution among companies facing high inflation, weaker consumer confidence, and global uncertainty. Many employers have slowed their hiring plans instead of expanding their workforce.

    Hiring Slowdown Signals Cooling Labor Market

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised April and May payroll numbers downward, indicating that hiring had already weakened before June. The updated figures point to a labor market that has been losing momentum over recent months.

    While the unemployment rate fell from 4.3% in May to 4.2% in June, the decline is partly due to the labor force participation rate dropping to 61.5%—the lowest in more than five years. Many individuals stopped looking for work and were no longer counted as unemployed. Household employment also fell, confirming that fewer Americans were employed.

    Industry Hiring Shows Mixed Performance

    Different industries showed varied hiring trends. Professional and business services added the most jobs, while healthcare and social assistance continued to hire. Manufacturing and construction posted small gains, supported by ongoing data center projects and infrastructure work.

    The technology sector continued to struggle. Major companies like Meta and Microsoft have reduced staff while increasing investments in artificial intelligence. The information sector has now recorded job losses in 17 of the past 18 months. Financial services hiring remained largely unchanged during June.

    Despite slower hiring, workers saw modest pay gains. Average hourly earnings rose 0.3% for the month and increased 3.5% year-over-year. Meanwhile, weekly unemployment benefit claims stayed relatively steady, suggesting companies are reducing hiring rather than cutting large numbers of jobs.

    Fed Rate Outlook in Focus

    The June employment report indicates that companies are becoming more cautious rather than rapidly expanding their workforce. While the labor market remains stable, job growth has clearly decelerated. Future inflation data and employment reports will help determine whether this slowdown continues.

    Many economists had anticipated stronger hiring in June, especially in leisure and hospitality. Instead, payroll growth missed forecasts by a wide margin. The weaker results, combined with lower revisions for prior months, suggest the job market is cooling faster than expected.

    The jobs report could influence future Federal Reserve decisions. Slower nonfarm payrolls may reduce pressure for additional interest rate increases, though inflation and wage growth remain key concerns. Investors will closely watch upcoming economic data for clearer signals about the direction of the US economy.

  • Crypto at a Crossroads: MiCA Deadline and US Jobs Report Fuel Market Uncertainty

    Crypto at a Crossroads: MiCA Deadline and US Jobs Report Fuel Market Uncertainty

    As July begins, the cryptocurrency market faces a confluence of events that could reshape trading dynamics across Europe and the United States. The European Union’s MiCA transitional period expires on July 1, forcing crypto-asset service providers to obtain full authorization or cease serving EU customers. At the same time, Robinhood prepares to unveil new products, while the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the June employment report. These developments, combined with potential geopolitical shocks and thinner holiday liquidity, may drive significant volatility for Bitcoin and other digital assets.

    MiCA Deadline Redraws Europe’s Crypto Landscape

    The expiration of the MiCA transitional period ends temporary national arrangements for crypto companies operating under earlier local rules. From July 1, all crypto-asset service providers must hold full authorization under the European Union’s unified licensing framework or stop offering services to EU customers. Authorized firms can now operate across participating European markets with a single license, while unauthorized ones must restrict new accounts, transfer users, reduce product access, or begin orderly shutdowns.

    Binance, failing to secure a MiCA license, has created an opening for competing exchanges to target its customer base. Users may face account migrations, changes in stablecoin access, fewer trading pairs, or new legal entities holding their assets. The European Securities and Markets Authority urges customers to verify whether their providers appear on the MiCA register. Large-scale user movements between platforms could also dampen euro-denominated trading volumes and token liquidity.

    Robinhood Plans New Crypto Product Reveal

    Robinhood will host an event featuring CEO Vlad Tenev and crypto general manager Johann Kerbrat to announce new products, though details remain scarce. The event occurs as financial platforms compete for customers during Europe’s regulatory transition. Market participants will watch for information about product access, supported markets, and how these services fit into Robinhood’s broader crypto business. Any immediate effect will depend on the specifics of the announcement and the timing of availability.

    U.S. Jobs Report Could Shift Rate Expectations

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the June employment report on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, ahead of the Independence Day holiday on July 3. A Reuters poll expects 110,000 additional nonfarm jobs—a slowdown from May. Traders will scrutinize unemployment, wage growth, and revisions alongside the headline figure. A stronger report could lift Treasury yields and the dollar by reducing expectations for easier Federal Reserve policy, potentially pressuring Bitcoin and other rate-sensitive assets. A weaker report could support risk assets if it lowers rate expectations without raising deeper economic concerns.

    Before Thursday, job openings, private payrolls, unemployment claims, and the ISM manufacturing index will offer additional signals. European inflation data, the ECB forum, and geopolitical risks may also influence currencies, yields, and crypto demand.

    As the week unfolds, the MiCA deadline, Robinhood’s product event, and the U.S. jobs report will likely shape market sentiment. Regulatory changes may affect European exchange access, while economic data could influence Bitcoin volatility and interest-rate expectations. Traders are advised to follow official announcements and market signals before making major decisions.