S&P 500, Dow fall while Nasdaq ends at record high
US stocks closed lower on Friday on weak September jobs report. The dollar was little changed as nonfarm payrolls shrank 33 thousand, though an 80 thousand gain was expected: the live dollar index data show the ICE US Dollar index, a measure of the dollar’s strength against a basket of six rival currencies, inched down 0.01% to 93.803. S&P 500 fell 0.1% to 2549.33, with eight out of 11 main sectors finishing in the red. Dow Jones industrial average lost 2 points to 22773.67. The Nasdaq composite index rose 0.1 % to record high 6590.18.
European stocks retreat
European stocks ended lower on Friday as Spain and Catalonia looked for a way out of the political crisis provoked by Catalonia independence referendum and Madrid apologized for the violent police crackdown on a referendum. The euro rebounded against the dollar while British Pound slipped on speculation UK Prime Minister Theresa May might resign after her “disastrous” speech at the Tory party conference on Wednesday and continued gridlock with Brussels over Brexit. The Stoxx Europe 600 index ended the session down 0.4%. The DAX 30 lost 0.1% to 12955.94. France’s CAC 40 fell 0.4% while UK’s FTSE 100 rose 0.2% to 7522.87. Indices opened mixed today.
Asian markets up despite weak Chinese data
Asian stock indices are mostly higher today in thin trading with markets in Japan and South Korea closed for the holiday. Chinese services activity survey indicated Caixin services PMI fell to a 21-month low at 50.6 in September from 52.7 in August. The composite index came in at 51.4 from 52.4 in August. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.The Shanghai Composite Index is up 0. 8% after opening following a week-long holiday, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is 0.4% lower. Australia’s ASX All Ordinaries is up 0.5% supported by a weaker Australian dollar against the greenback.
Oil higher
Oil futures prices are edging higher today on expectations that Saudi Arabia would continue to restrain its output to support the market. Prices fell Friday as traders anticipated lower demand for crude on refinery shutdowns as hurricane Nate approached US Gulf coast. December Brent ended 2.1% lower at $55.62 a barrel on Friday, falling 2.1% for the week.