Il US Department of Labor announced today that in December American companies created more jobs than expected (292 thousand, against the 210 thousand expected), starting the year with the same positive pace as in 2015.
As for the unemployment rate, it remained unchanged at 5%: this is the lowest level since pre-crisis levels (April 2008), but analysts had forecast an average drop to 4,9%. The data is therefore worse than expected and this suggests that the Federal Reserve may postpone the further rise in interest rates.
However, the unemployment rate remains in line with the range between 5 and 5,2%, which the Federal Reserve considers a condition of "full employment".
As for Wall Street, Dow Jones futures rise 203 points versus 123 prior to the figure, up 1,37%; those of the S&P 500 rose by 31,25 points, 1,6% against the +0,9% recorded before the release of the report; those of the Nasdaq score a +76,75 points, 1,79%.
However, a powerful rebound will be needed to at least partially recover the losses of this first week of 2016: the Dow lost 5,2%; the S&P 500 sees -4,9%; the Nasdaq marks -6,35%. Oil rebounds in February: in NY it marks a +1,4% to 33,74 dollars.
Meanwhile, on the currency market, the euro lost positions against the dollar, going from 1,0857 to 1,0814. The greenback is also trading at 118,61 yen versus a pre-date valuation of 118,38.
