Dow jumps over 300 points to close at an all-time high after blockbuster jobs report

The Dow closed at an all-time high Friday as a stronger-than-expected jobs report reassured investors who had worried the economy may be getting too weak.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 341.16 points, or 0.8%, to 42,352.75, eclipsing its previous high of 42,330.15 on Monday.The S&P 500 gained 0.9% and the Nasdaq gained more than 200 points, or 1.2%.All three indexes finished in positive territory for the week.US job gains increased in September by the most in six months, and the unemployment rate fell to 4.1%, the report showed.Traders further reduced bets on a 50-basis-point reduction at the Federal Reserve’s Nov.

6-7 meeting.Traders are now pricing in just an 8% chance of a 50-bps rate cut, down from around 31% earlier on Friday, the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool showed.The data “basically tells us economic activity in the fourth quarter is likely to remain at a solid pace,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities in New York.“It’s a good surprise, but I also think it may now slow the pace of rate cuts.”The Fed kicked off a monetary easing cycle last month by cutting rates 50 bps.Small caps were outperforming, with the Russell 2000  index up 1.4%, and the S&P 500 financials index also was up 1.6%.The S&P energy index was up more than 1% for the day, following oil prices higher.

With tensions in the Middle East escalating, the index was up 6.8% so far for the week, its biggest weekly percentage gain since October 2022.US ports on the East and Gulf coasts reopened, but clearing the cargo backlog will likely take time.Sign up to receive On The Money by Charlie Gasparino in your inbox every Thursday.

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