LIVE MARKETS-US stocks firm up with S&P 500 on pace for record closing high
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US STOCKS FIRM UP WITH S&P 500 ON PACE FOR RECORD CLOSING HIGH
Wall Street's main indexes opened slightly higher on Friday, as investors digested weaker-than-expected jobs data. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court will not rule on Friday on the Trump tariffs case.
A Labor Department report showed nonfarm payrolls increased 50,000 in December, compared with an estimated 60,000 rise, according to economists polled by Reuters. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.4%, slightly below the expected 4.5%. Traders boosted bets on a pause in interest rate cuts in January following the report. They are still pricing in about 55 basis points of easing in 2026, according to data compiled by LSEG.
All S&P 500 .SPX sectors are now higher, with Utilities .SPLRCU, up nearly 2%, posting the biggest rise. Financials .SPSY are edging positive.
Under the surface, chips .SOX and precious metals miners .XAU are among outperformers.
Among the indexes on track for record closing highs are the S&P 500, Consumer Discretionary .SPLRCD, Communication Services .SPLRCL, the Dow Transports .DJT, the small-cap Russell 2000 .RUT, the PHLX gold/silver index .XAU, and S&P 500 Value .IVX.
For the week so far, the S&P 500 is advancing 1.4%, the Nasdaq .IXIC is up 1.5%, and the Dow .DJI is higher by 2.2%.
Here is snapshot of where markets stood around 10:17 a.m. ET:
(Terence Gabriel)
EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:
US STOCK FUTURES EDGE UP AFTER LATEST EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS CLICK HERE
EURO CORPORATE ISSUANCE SET FOR RECORD 2026 WITH 10% GROWTH CLICK HERE
FOR BRITISH GILTS, A YEAR MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE CLICK HERE
THE YUAN'S STEALTH RALLY COULD GO EITHER WAY CLICK HERE
GLENCORE STEALS THE SHOW IN EARLY TRADING CLICK HERE
EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: BUSY DAY AHEAD CLICK HERE
MORNING BID EUROPE: A ONE-TWO PAYROLLS, TARIFF SUCKER PUNCH? CLICK HERE
earlytrade01092026 
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