US stocks jumped on Friday, led by tech stocks, after a weaker-than-expected jobs report cemented expectations that the Fed will remain on hold at the October policy meeting. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose 0.5%, the S&P 500 (^GSPC) gained by 0.7%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) rose 1.2%, just a stone's throw away from a record high. September's nonfarm payrolls report showed U.S. employers added 29,000 jobs, less than expected, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.2%.
→ Fed messaging next week—with rate-hike odds for October now under 20%, focus shifts to December inflation data and broader 2026 policy path.
→ Earnings season ramp: Nike shares sank as the company warned revenue will decline in fiscal 2027, while Accenture surged 15.8% on strong earnings, setting the tone for earnings expectations.
→ Oil inventories and geopolitics—Middle East tensions remain latent despite weaker crude prices; any escalation could rapidly reverse today's losses.