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US stocks rose on Friday as a softer December jobs report kept the Federal Reserve on track to hold rates in January. The Supreme Court also skipped a decision on President Donald Trump’s tariffs, leaving a key catalyst unresolved.
The S&P 500 added 0.5% by late morning in New York, while the NASDAQ 100 rose 0.7%. The Dow gained 0.3%, and the Russell 2000 advanced 0.8%. The Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.9%, and the MSCI World Index gained 0.5%. Investors also tracked energy and metals shares as commodities strengthened.
Treasuries held a tight range after the data. The 10-year yield stayed near 4.17%, while the two-year yield edged up to 3.51%. Traders still priced a pause at the January 27 - January 28 meeting. Swaps implied about 0.5 percentage point of cuts over 2026, with June a key window.
The dollar firmed as yields held. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 0.2%. The euro slipped 0.2% to $1.1636, and the pound fell 0.2% to $1.3415. The yen weakened 0.7% to 157.98 per dollar. Oil outperformed, with WTI up 2.6% at $59.24 a barrel. Gold added 0.8% to $4,511.91 an ounce.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said nonfarm payrolls increased by 50,000 in December. Economists expected about 70,000. Downward revisions also reduced the prior two months. The unemployment rate fell to 4.4% from 4.6%, easing concerns about a fast deterioration.
Equities absorbed the “slower but stable” signal and moved higher after early swings. Technology shares helped lead the advance, while volatility stayed subdued for early 2026. Bitcoin rose 0.7% to about $91,860, and ether climbed 0.7% to roughly $3,137. Crypto followed the broader risk tone and kept moves orderly.
Meta Platforms agreed to data-center power deals that position it as a major nuclear buyer among hyperscalers.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. rose after reporting strong December sales.
Qualcomm slipped after Mizuho downgraded the stock to neutral from outperform.
Rio Tinto held talks to buy Glencore, a deal that could create a mining group worth over $200 billion.
China Vanke prepared a debt restructuring plan at the authorities’ request, increasing default worries.
General Motors said it will take another $6 billion in charges tied to EV and battery production cutbacks.
The Supreme Court did not rule on the legality of Trump’s import levies. Traders continued to frame the ruling as a test for both stocks and bonds. Investors watched closely for more court opinions over the next two weeks. A strike-down could improve margins for import-heavy firms and ease consumer cost pressure. However, the White House could pursue other legal paths, keeping policy uncertainty elevated.
Tariff-exposed shares reacted quickly to the absence of a decision. Deere slid about 1.3%, while UPS and FedEx trimmed gains. Consumer names also wavered, with Nike down more than 1% at points and Mattel falling close to 3%. JPMorgan analysis also highlighted continued retail buying after 2025’s strong performance, which helped stabilize pullbacks.
Mortgage and real estate stocks also jumped after Trump said he directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy mortgage bonds. LoanDepot surged, while Rocket and Opendoor also advanced. The move lifted mortgage-bond prices and revived focus on housing affordability ahead of the November midterms.
Also Read: US Stock Market Today: NASDAQ Edges Up, Dow Slips as Mixed US Data Tests Early-2026 Risk Appetite
