Shawn Cruz

Stock index futures rebounded slightly early Friday as investors focused on some signs of cooling jobs growth. February saw a huge jump of 311,000 positions, but wage growth slowed and the unemployment rate rose. Treasury yields dipped after the data.

Choppy trading could be the feature today as market participants await Friday’s key February jobs data. Analysts expect jobs growth of just over 200,000 following January’s unexpectedly massive gain of more than 500,000. Stocks fell and the 10-year Treasury yield rose early.

As Powell takes the podium again, markets brace for possible volatility. Yesterday’s remarks by the Fed Chairman have market participants expecting a 50-basis-point rate hike this month and more to come, but that also raises recession fears. Watch the dollar and yields.

Markets traded mixed early Tuesday as investors anticipated the latest remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell due soon after the open. In other developments, China’s imports and exports slumped early this year, and Meta Platforms is reportedly planning more layoffs.

Markets wavered early Monday after last week’s sharp recovery as investors anticipate a heavy docket of U.S. and overseas data accompanied by Congressional testimony from Fed Chairman Powell. Jobs will be in the spotlight as Friday’s February employment report approaches.

Stock index futures turned higher following yesterday’s late rally and a healthy batch of services data from Europe and Asia. There’s U.S. services data just after the open, and investors are also digesting earnings from Broadcom and Costco.

An early rally in stock futures came back to earth ahead of the open as investors parse the latest data from China and await key U.S. manufacturing data and Tesla's investor day ahead. A host of earnings come tomorrow.

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February’s first days could deliver plenty of fireworks as the Fed is expected to deliver another quarter-point hike and investors scrutinize January’s jobs data. After that, it’s important to keep an eye on China’s reopening, the debt ceiling battle in Congress, and inflation and manufacturing data that is likely to influence future rate decisions.

Stocks beat an immediate retreat after the Fed raised rates by 25 basis points Wednesday, but that quickly changed as investors dissected the Fed’s statement and a press conference from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. There seems to be hope that the long upward movement in rates could be approaching a finale.