BOJ Surprise Can’t Be Ruled Out in First Move of 2023

BOJ Surprise Can’t Be Ruled Out in First Move of 2023

(Bloomberg) — The Bank of Japan returns to the spotlight this week after it shocked world-wide monetary markets in December with a tweak to its stimulus program.

Most Study from Bloomberg

When all but just one of 43 economists in a survey forecast the central financial institution to leave policy unchanged on Wednesday, lots of say they simply cannot rule out far more motion.

That is partly because the BOJ’s messaging has come to be significantly less distinct following its doubling of a cap on 10-year bond yields. Governor Haruhiko Kuroda in the earlier has characterised this sort of a go as a amount hike, but previous thirty day period reported it was aimed at strengthening the sustainability of its stimulus framework.

He’ll step down in April, and speculation is making that the central bank will then move toward a normalization of coverage.

Regardless of the selection to make it possible for wider bond actions, stress on the BOJ’s yield curve regulate framework has only amplified since final month.

Japan’s 10-yr yield rose above the new ceiling of .5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} Friday for the 1st time since the Dec. 20 gathering, prompting the BOJ to shell out 3.2 trillion yen ($24.9 billion) on set-fee bond purchases to rein it in — a daily record.

Traders are now even extra certain that any change in the coverage need to be a surprise, building the January assembly a wild-card. Citigroup economists count on the bank to scrap its generate curve management totally.

A nearby media report on Thursday explained the central financial institution will evaluate the facet results of its large-scale financial easing, fueling more speculative moves by traders.

Nonetheless, BOJ officials see small have to have to rush by yet another big move to increase bond- marketplace functioning, and plan makers must assess the effects of previous month’s produce adjustments for now, people today acquainted with the issue told Bloomberg before this thirty day period.

New quarterly economic projections unveiled alongside with a policy statement will also appear beneath scrutiny. They are widely expected to demonstrate a better outlook for prices in the coming fiscal years. Inflation knowledge due on Friday may perhaps display acceleration way too.

What Bloomberg Economics Says:

“To press back again from market place stress for an earlier transfer to normalize policy, we imagine the BOJ could announce that it will diligently enjoy yen swap rates — in a new jawboning tactic.”

—Yuki Masujima, senior economist. For comprehensive assessment, click below

Elsewhere, Chinese details may well reveal harm to the economy from Covid lockdowns, US retail profits could clearly show a even further drop, and Uk inflation is probably to sluggish. Central bankers in Malaysia and Indonesia are expected to hike fees, though Norway and Turkey are probable to maintain, and Angola may well slash.

The Earth Financial Discussion board will resume regular business with its initial winter meetings in Davos, Switzerland, because in advance of the pandemic.

Click here for what took place last 7 days and under is our wrap of what is coming up in the worldwide financial system.

Asia

In other places in Asia, China releases retail profits, financial investment and industrial output quantities for December on Tuesday, with downbeat figures anticipated as Covid’s spread dented confidence in the final months of 2022.

Fourth quarter and entire-yr GDP facts will clearly show an economy that slowed below the excess weight of Covid restrictions and a home downturn, however focus is speedily shifting towards prospective customers for a recovery as China’s economic system reopens.

Down Less than, positions figures will suggest how the economy is faring as the Reserve Bank of Australia mulls irrespective of whether to go on or pause its tightening cycle.

In Southeast Asia, the central banking institutions of Indonesia and Malaysia could continue on boosting premiums at individual meetings on Thursday.

US and Canada

After the latest client-value info showed US inflation is moderating, awareness this coming 7 days turns to need, with Wednesday’s release of December retail product sales figures.

Buys are seen retreating for a next thirty day period, reflecting weaker auto product sales and a drop in receipts at gasoline stations. Product sales are also seen declining for consecutive months when autos and gasoline are excluded. The figures are not modified for inflation.

Other studies on Wednesday include things like the producer cost index and industrial output. Economists forecast a further more moderation in prices paid out to producers in December.

Output at brands, utilities and mines probably stagnated past month, restrained by a 2nd straight drop in manufacturing facility generation. Data in the latter element of the week is projected to display a decline in housing commences and revenue of beforehand owned houses at the finish of 2022.

Further more north, the previous big inputs into Lender of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem’s 1st plan conclusion of the year will be produced.

The central bank publishes quarterly company and purchaser outlook surveys on Monday. Policy makers are looking at inflation and wage anticipations as they weigh irrespective of whether to pause their aggressive campaign of charge hikes on Jan. 25.

Client value index facts for December, owing Tuesday, might business up bets for an additional 25-basis-stage enhance after a blowout jobs report. Headline inflation in Canada is predicted to simplicity to 6.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, but core steps could present underlying pressures.

Europe, Center East, Africa

British isles knowledge will just take centre stage in European markets. On Tuesday, jobs and wage figures will allow the Bank of England to gauge how cost gains are feeding into the labor marketplace. Inflation data the following day may possibly have slowed closer towards 10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, raising the prospect that the worst has passed.

The BOE releases its survey of credit history situations on Thursday, and the 7 days will complete with retail profits for December — predicted to clearly show a rebound from the former month at a calendar substantial level for spending. That may possibly assist the gist of data final 7 days suggesting the United kingdom could have avoided slipping into a recession.

The major BOE look for the week will be Governor Andrew Bailey and colleagues on Monday, testifying to Parliament’s Treasury Committee.

In the euro zone, minutes of the European Central Bank’s December price determination on Thursday will be a highlight. Coverage makers together with President Christine Lagarde are also owing to converse, with most performing so in Davos.

Extra than 2,700 customers of the worldwide elite approach to gather at the Swiss resort for the World Economic Forum. Swiss National Financial institution President Thomas Jordan will also speak there.

Elsewhere in Europe, Norway’s central financial institution on Thursday is probable to continue to keep its benchmark amount unchanged at 2.75{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} and repeat direction for a single more quarter-point hike in March.

The exact day in Turkey, policy makers will almost certainly hold fees continual for a second month, owning introduced the benchmark into single digits as demanded by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But with common elections now months away, much more cuts could be on the playing cards — even as inflation continues to be over 60{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.

The region’s remaining determination of the week will be in Angola, wherever the central bank could increase to the 1 level slice it shipped very last calendar year following inflation slowed in just about just about every month of 2022.

South African details on Wednesday may well exhibit inflation exceeded 6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, the higher restrict of the central bank’s focus on selection, for a seventh straight month. That might be more than enough to prompt the eighth fee hike since November 2021 the following week.

Latin The usa

In a mild week for indicators in the area, Brazil’s central financial institution leads off with its carefully viewed Focus study of area economists’ anticipations.

Notably, previous week’s survey confirmed that although Banco Central do Brasil did deliver down inflation by extra than 600 basis points in 2022, economists be expecting only scant deceleration in 2023 and don’t see the headline fee back to concentrate on just before 2026.

In Mexico, knowledge on retail profits and identical-store profits are very likely to clearly show some bounce thanks to end-of-calendar year bonuses and a important browsing there holiday akin to Black Friday.

In Colombia, a raft of indicators will possible underscore the rising drag on the economic climate from double-digit inflation and fascination prices. From a 10.6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} expansion in 2021, economists surveyed by Bloomberg forecast the economy’s cooling in the fourth quarter to gradual 2022 expansion to 7.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} all round, on the way to a considerably decreased 1.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} rate projected for 2023.

Back again in Brazil, the countrywide unemployment rate in November might have declined for an 18th time in 20 months right after hitting a seven-year very low of 8.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in Oct. Analyst estimates array from 7.9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to 8.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, fairly maybe below the stage the place the labor current market begins to impact inflation.

–With aid from Vince Golle, Benjamin Harvey, Robert Jameson, Malcolm Scott and Stephen Wicary.

Most Study from Bloomberg Businessweek

©2023 Bloomberg L.P.

Inflation is going to surprise investors again in 2023

Inflation is going to surprise investors again in 2023

A version of this article first appeared in the Morning Brief. Get the Morning Brief sent directly to your inbox every Monday to Friday by 6:30 a.m. ET. Subscribe

Thursday, January 12, 2023

Today’s newsletter is by Myles Udland, Head of News at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @MylesUdland and on LinkedIn. Read this and more market news on the go with Yahoo Finance App.

The final consumer price index of 2022 is due out Thursday morning, and is expected to show prices rose 6.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} over the prior year in December.

As 2022 began, the inflation conversation was centered on whether a rise in prices would prove to be “transitory.”

The answer was definitive: Inflation was not transitory.

So as 2023 begins, conversations now focus on how entrenched inflation pressures have become and how far the Federal Reserve may need to go to cut them off.

Take comments from JPMorgan (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon, for instance, who said in an interview this week the Fed “may very well” raise interest rates to 6{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in order to bring inflation “to where it needs to be.”

The latest Fed forecasts suggest rates will top out at 5.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} this year.

JPMorgan Chase and Company President and CEO Jamie Dimon testifies before a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing on

JPMorgan Chase and Company President and CEO Jamie Dimon testifies before a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing on “Annual Oversight of the Nation’s Largest Banks”, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 22, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

And just as inflation offered investors persistent surprises in 2022, it is set to do the same in the new year. Only this time, the surprises will be in the opposite direction.

In a note to clients published earlier this week, Ian Shepherdson at Pantheon Macroeconomics explored a question he’s gotten from clients recently: Is inflation going to eventually be negative this year?

In Shepherdson’s view, the path to getting headline inflation as measured by the CPI from 6.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to below 0{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} is unlikely.

But the economist does see the Fed’s expectations for price changes being wrong again this year, except this time the central bank will be too pessimistic about how much price increases slow.

A drop in rents and margins should bring core inflation growth to a monthly rate of 0.2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} by the middle of the year. Meanwhile, absent another spike in oil prices, gasoline prices could be some 30{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} lower than the prior year come early summer, Shepherdson notes.

Moreover, food prices, which rose 12{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} over last year in November, should moderate significantly as food commodity prices drop, with price increases for food at home approaching 0{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} by the end of 2023.

Inflation pressures are expected to moderate notably throughout 2023, though this slowdown in price increases bringing headline inflation below 0{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} is still not likely. (Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics)

Inflation pressures are expected to moderate notably throughout 2023, though this slowdown in price increases bringing headline inflation below 0{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} is still not likely. (Source: Pantheon Macroeconomics)

“We have no problem making our base case that inflation undershoots the path implied by the Fed’s forecasts, but a dip below zero is a long shot,” Shepherdson wrote. “It’s not impossible, but it is a distraction from the bigger point, which is that the Fed will have to recognize that inflation pressure is fading faster than they expect, regardless of whether the final destination is 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, zero, or -2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.”

In 2022, just about anyone who said the Federal Reserve would be wrong on inflation turned out to be right: Inflation rose at the fastest pace in 40 years and the central bank was playing catch-up all the way.

And if Shepherdson’s view turns out to be right this year, the central bank will be scrambling once again.

But this time in the opposite direction.

“Chair Powell has made it abundantly clear that the Fed will not be front-running the coming drop in inflation,” Shepherdson wrote, “but neither will they be able to ignore it once it becomes clear to markets that the downshift is real.”

What to Watch Today

Economy

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: Consumer Price Index, month-over-month, December (0{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} expected, 0.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} during prior month)

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: CPI Excluding Food and Energy, month-over-month, December (0.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} expected, 0.2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} during prior month)

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: Consumer Price Index, year-over-year, December (6.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} expected, 7.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} during prior month)

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: CPI Excluding Food and Energy, year-over-year, December (5.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} expected, 6.0{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} during prior month)

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: Real Average Hourly Earnings, year-over-year, December (-1.9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} during prior month, revised to -2.1{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996})

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: Real Average Weekly Earnings, year-over-year, December (-3.0{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} during prior month, downwardly revised to -3.3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996})

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: Initial Jobless Claims, week ended Jan. 7 (214,000 expected, 204,000 during prior week)

  • 8:30 a.m. ET: Continuing Claims, week ended Dec. 31 (1.694 million during prior week)

  • 2:00 p.m. ET: Monthly Budget Statement (-$60 billion expected, -$21.3 billion during prior month)

Earnings

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Why the Bank of Japan’s surprise policy twist rattled global markets

Why the Bank of Japan’s surprise policy twist rattled global markets

Anchors aweigh?

The Bank of Japan sent shock waves through world wide economical markets Tuesday, correctly loosening a cap on 10-year authorities bond yields in a surprise transfer observed as potentially pointing the way to a broader tightening by the previous big world wide central financial institution to maintain an ultraloose monetary coverage.

Analysts and economists debated the significance of the shift. But the marketplace response showed international investors were being rattled by the probable for the Bank of Japan to at some point give up its part as the previous remaining reduced-fee anchor.

“The fact that investors see today’s go as heralding a more substantial shift is evident from the market place reaction,” stated Jim Reid, strategist at Deutsche Bank, in a be aware.

The BOJ, at a regular coverage assembly, mentioned the produce on the 10-year Japanese governing administration bond could rise as large as .5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} from a preceding cap of .25{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. The central bank, as aspect of a plan recognized as generate curve manage, has maintained a target assortment about zero for the benchmark authorities bond generate considering that 2016 and employed that as a resource to maintain in general current market curiosity premiums minimal.

For its part, the BOJ did not cite inflation as a reason for the shift, as an alternative highlighting problems about the functioning of the govt bond marketplace.

The yen soared, strengthening by additional than 3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} versus the U.S. dollar
USDJPY,
+.02{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996},
whilst yields on 10-year Japanese govt bonds
TMBMKJP-10Y,
.448{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
were being up 16 foundation points at .413{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, after hitting their highest level considering the fact that 2015. U.S. Treasury yields
TMUBMUSD10Y,
3.711{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
 spiked as world wide bond yields rose. The greenback weakened broadly as opposed to major rivals, with the ICE U.S. Greenback Index
DXY,
+.01{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
down .7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.

The widening differential between Japanese and other created current market curiosity prices experienced translated into a steep selloff by the yen this calendar year, with the currency hitting a multidecade low as opposed to the U.S. dollar previously this calendar year.

Fairness markets in Asia felt the heat from soaring yields, with Japan’s Nikkei 225
NIK,
-.89{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
falling additional than 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. Shares in Europe and the U.S. observed a additional subdued reaction, with U.S. stocks shook off modest early losses to end a little bit higher as the Dow Jones Industrial Typical
DJIA,
+.28{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996},
S&P 500
SPX,
+.10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
and Nasdaq Composite
COMP,
+.01{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
snapped a 4-day losing streak.

Speculation all-around a broader shift in policy has been mounting.

The U.S. Treasury market place felt ripples in Monday’s session immediately after the Kyodo Information agency over the weekend reported that Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was on the lookout to make the country’s 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} inflation goal much more flexible. The report explained that Kishida, as before long as up coming spring, could discuss information of how to revise the government’s ten years-extended accord with the BOJ on the 2{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} goal following a new central-financial institution governor succeeds Haruhiko Kuroda, whose term ends in April.

The Lender of Japan has put in massively in its effort to retain the cap on the 10-yr yield as worldwide bond yields jumped this 12 months in reaction to policy tightening by other major central banking institutions, observed Robin Brooks, chief economist at the Institute of Worldwide Finance, on Twitter. That tension may well intensify “because marketplaces scent blood,” he explained.

Although prospects for a transfer were being being built into expectations for 2023, there was a prevalent view that very little was probable to materialize in the ultimate months of Kuroda’s phrase as governor, said Adam Cole, main currency strategist at RBC Capital Marketplaces, in a take note.

He observed that other areas of policy, which include forward advice and the coverage balance amount, were still left unchanged and the statement performed up the current market working role of the band widening, rather than characterizing it as a tightening of financial plan.

“But coming in illiquid problems, the market place response has been sharp. In the in close proximity to-term, we would not stand in the way of JPY toughness and note that positioning, even though significantly diminished in current months, was nonetheless web prolonged USD/JPY heading into the choice and covering of these JPY shorts might have JPY increased nevertheless,” he wrote.

JPMorgan looks at ‘Armageddon scenario’ of Fed jacking rates up to 6.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. Its conclusion may come as a surprise.

JPMorgan looks at ‘Armageddon scenario’ of Fed jacking rates up to 6.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}. Its conclusion may come as a surprise.

The market’s expectation is that the Federal Reserve will preserve lifting its plan desire amount right until it brings it to 5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} just before pausing for some time.

But it is attainable that the Fed could choose that 5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} is not practically more than enough. That would be the circumstance if the U.S. financial system proceeds growing at a reliable clip and inflation doesn’t substantially amazing off.

Strategists at JPMorgan led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou decided to examine a scenario in which the Fed would get its benchmark level to 6.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} all through the second 50 percent of 2023. They mentioned that the JPMorgan economics group assigns a 28{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} probability to that situation, so it is inside of the realm of likelihood, even though the premiums current market only assigns a 10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} likelihood to that outcome.

In discussions with customers, the strategists claimed, that situation is widely perceived as the Armageddon situation. “After all, the very last time the Fed resources rate was at 6.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} was in 2000 and that level of coverage costs was followed by very significant losses for threat markets at the time,” they claimed.

But the JPMorgan team would not expect genuine Armageddon to choose put in money marketplaces. “In our opinion, even though there is minor question that [Fed rates at 6.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}] would be negative for most asset courses like equities, bonds and credit history, the eventual draw back is probable to be extra constrained that an Armageddon would advise,” they mentioned.

Net debit balances in NYSE margin accounts are at lower concentrations.


Finra/NYSE/JPMorgan

Need for bonds, the strategists famous, has by now collapsed, and it’s envisioned to keep on being weak as central financial institutions have interaction in quantitative tightening. “This unprecedentedly weak demand projected for 2023 raises the hurdle that need would submit a further big destructive shock in 2023 and raises the chance of an upward shock,” they claimed. Furthermore, source is forecast to fall by $1.7 trillion subsequent 12 months.

Granted, the Fed having charges to 6.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} would have major implications on the quick conclusion
TMUBMUSD02Y,
4.320{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
of the Treasury generate curve. But yields on the lengthier finish would rise “by a lot a lot less,” they stated, implying an even starker inversion than what we’re seeing now.

They made similar opinions on the U.S. stock market place, centered on Commodity Futures Trading Commission data on leveraged resources and asset manager positioning. “All these fairness demand from customers indicators stand at instead low ranges, making an uneven backdrop where by another major drop looks a good deal fewer probably for 2023,” the analysts claimed.

Already, they pointed out, the S&P 500
SPX,
-.73{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}
has been in essence unchanged about the previous 7 months, even as the peak in Fed pricing has climbed to 5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} from about 3{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in May possibly.

Stocks rise after jobs report shows surprise jump in payrolls

Stocks shook off earlier losses to mostly rise Friday afternoon even as investors viewed a much stronger-than-expected jobs report as bolstering the case for the Federal Reserve to continue down its more hawkish monetary policy path.

The S&P 500 turned higher during intraday trading, closing up 0.52{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} at 4,500.61, while the Dow lost steam to close at 35,089.28. The Nasdaq also rose by 1.58{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to 14,098.01. A day earlier, the Nasdaq Composite index sank by 3.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} for its worst single-day decline since September 2020. Oil prices also remained in focus as U.S. West Texas intermediate crude oil prices jumped further above $90 per barrel after crossing that threshold for the first time since 2014 on Thursday.

New labor market data was the major focal point for investors on Friday, showing employment growth held up much more robustly than expected despite the surge in Omicron cases at the beginning of the year. Payrolls grew by 467,000, or well above the 125,000 expected to return, and job gains for December were upwardly revised to more than half a million. The labor force participation rate also improved markedly, and average hourly earnings jumped by a greater-than-expected 5.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, or the most since May 2020.

The latest jobs report came as a surprise following a string of other softening data points on the state of the labor market, with ADP’s private payrolls report showing earlier this week the first contraction in private-sector employment in more than a year. But Friday’s report offered potential fodder for the hawks in the Federal Reserve to press ahead with their plans to raise interest rates and begin tightening in the near-term, as the economic recovery continues to progress.

“For markets, the jobs report is all about the Fed, and today’s upside surprises in both job creation and wage growth keep the Fed on track to begin raising rates in March and hike four or more times this year,” Barry Gilbert, asset allocation strategist at LPL Financial, wrote in an email Friday.

Meanwhile, a batch of upbeat quarterly results from Amazon (AMZN), Snap (SNAP) and Pinterest (PINS) helped dispel some of the gloom hanging over technology shares from during the regular trading day, after Meta Platforms (FB) offered an outlook that fell well short of Wall Street’s expectations.

Investors responded favorably to Amazon’s announced price hike on its premium Amazon Prime subscription and better-than-expected growth in its lucrative cloud computing business unit. And Snap and Pinterest each topped Wall Street estimates for quarterly sales and earnings, suggesting Meta Platforms may have been alone among the ad-driven internet companies in bearing the brunt of headwinds from competition and Apple iOS software changes.

4:01 p.m. ET: Dow loses steam, Nasdaq gains

Here were the main moves in markets as of 4:01 p.m. ET:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +23.17 (+0.52{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,500.61

  • Dow (^DJI): -22.01 (-0.06{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 35,089.15

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +219.19 (+1.58{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 14,098.01

  • Crude (CL=F): +$2.11 (+2.34{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $92.38 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$3.80 (+0.21{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,807.90 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +10.3 bps to yield 1.9300{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

12:02 p.m. ET: Bitcoin jumps by nearly 10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to top $40,000

Bitcoin prices (BTC-USD) jumped by nearly 10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} Friday afternoon to cross the $40,000 level, with the largest cryptocurrency by market cap posting its biggest single-day rise in months as digital currency prices tracked gains across major tech stocks.

Prices of Ether, LiteCoin, and XRP also moved notably higher during intraday trading as well. Stocks related to cryptocurrencies also gained, including Coinbase (COIN) with a rise of 5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, and MicroStrategy (MSTR) with a jump of more than 11{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}.

10:12 a.m. ET: Snap shares surge more than 50{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} after users, earnings top estimates, shaking off growth concerns

Snap shares (SNAP) soared by more than 50{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} intraday on Friday after the company topped expectations across virtually all major metrics in its latest quarterly results.

Revenue jumped 42{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} over last year to reach $1.3 billion, with daily active users growing by 20{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to reach 319 million. Adjusted earnings per share of 22 cents were double the 11-cent consensus estimate. The bottom-line results also helped Snap post its first annual profit for the full-year 2021.

Despite the surge in the stock price, however, Snap shares remained lower by more than 20{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} for the year-to-date through intraday trading on Friday.

9:40 a.m. ET: Amazon shares jump by most since 2017 after earnings, Prime price increase

Amazon (AMZN) shares rose by 12{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} just after market open, which would mark the biggest single-day rise in the stock since 2017 after the e-commerce giant posted stronger-than-expected earnings results and announced a price increase on its Prime membership subscription.

Fourth-quarter sales grew 9.4{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} over last year to a record $137.4 billion. Though online store net sales were down slightly on a year-over-year basis, high-margin Amazon Web Services cloud sales grew 40{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} to reach $17.8 billion.

Amazon also said its Prime annual membership was going up in price by $20 to $139 each year, offering a future boost to top-line results. The company sees current-quarter net sales coming in between $112 billion and $117 billion, with operating income of as much as $6.0 billion.

9:30 a.m. ET: Stocks open mixed

Here’s where stocks were trading Friday morning just after market open:

  • S&P 500 (^GSPC): +1.13 (+0.03{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 4,474.86

  • Dow (^DJI): -110.52 (-0.31{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 35,000.64

  • Nasdaq (^IXIC): +56.57 (+0.41{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 13,929.16

  • Crude (CL=F): +$1.74 (+1.93{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $92.01 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): -$3.70 (-0.21{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,800.40 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): +7.4 bps to yield 1.901{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

8:55 a.m. ET: U.S. employment unexpectedly jumped in January despite Omicron surge

U.S. employers added back far more jobs than expected in January even as Omicron cases surged at the beginning of the new year.

Non-farm payrolls grew by 467,000, far exceeding the 125,000 consensus economists were looking for, according to Bloomberg data. The unemployment rate rose to 4.0{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, but this was just a tick above the pandemic-era low of 3.9{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} seen in December.

Meanwhile, signs of continued inflation also emerged in the January report, as average hourly earnings jumped by a bigger-than-expected 5.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} in January. This came following a 4.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} increase in December. On a month-over-month basis, average hourly wages rose 0.7{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}, or also well above the 0.5{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996} from December.

7:32 a.m. ET: Friday: Stock futures mixed ahead of jobs report

Here’s where markets were trading Friday morning:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): -5 points (-0.11{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}), to 4,464.00

  • Dow futures (YM=F): -145.00 points (-0.41{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}), to 34,826.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +56.75 points (+0.39{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 14,549.00

  • Crude (CL=F): +$1.90 (+2.10{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $92.17 a barrel

  • Gold (GC=F): +$7.10 (+0.39{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to $1,811.20 per ounce

  • 10-year Treasury (^TNX): -0.7 bps to yield 1.82{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}

6:13 p.m. ET Thursday: Stock futures jump after Amazon earnings

Here were the main moves in markets during the overnight session:

  • S&P 500 futures (ES=F): +45.25 points (+1.01{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}), to 4,514.25

  • Dow futures (YM=F): +148 points (+0.42{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}), to 35,119.00

  • Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): +265.5 points (+1.83{21df340e03e388cc75c411746d1a214f72c176b221768b7ada42b4d751988996}) to 14,757.75

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 31: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on January 31, 2022 in New York City. After a volatile week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down slightly in morning trading. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 31: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on January 31, 2022 in New York City. After a volatile week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down slightly in morning trading. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Emily McCormick is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter