U.S. Stocks Open Lower After Strong Jobs Report Reinforces Fed Path By Investing.com


© Reuters.

By Liz Moyer

Investing.com — U.S. stocks opened lower after a stronger than expected jobs report for May reinforced the Federal Reserve’s plan to raise interest rates by half-percentage point increments in both June and July.

At 9:47 AM ET, the fell 292 points or 0.9%, while the fell 1.3% and the fell 1.9%.

The economy added 390,000 jobs in May, more than the 325,000 expected, and the unemployment rate stood around 3.6%, the same as the prior month.

Despite the positive news on the jobs front, companies are bracing for a slowdown. Tech companies have disclosed plans to slow or freeze hiring, and a few have said they were cutting some jobs. Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:) is reportedly in the latter camp. The electric car maker’s shares fell 6% in early trading after a Reuters report that CEO Elon Musk wants to cut 10% of jobs at the company, citing an email in which Musk said he has a “super bad feeling” about the economy. A few days ago, Musk told employees to return to the office 40 hours a week or find a new job.

Shares of Kohls Corp (NYSE:) rose nearly 3% after a report the department store received bids from private equity firm Sycamore Partners and retail holding company Franchise Group (NASDAQ:).

Oil was flat a day after OPEC and allies agreed to raise production in July and August. traded around $116 a barrel, while crude slipped 0.1% to around $117.45 a barrel. fell 0.5% to $1,863 an ounce.

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