rewrite this title and make it good for SEOStock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq retreat as consumer sentiment slides

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US stocks turned lower on Friday, erasing earlier small gains as investors digested a surprise fall in consumer sentiment and a cooler-than-expected jobs report.

The S&P 500 (^GSPC) fell 0.1%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) slid 0.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) also fell 0.1% on the heels of a mixed day for stocks on Wall Street. Meanwhile the 10-year Treasury (^TNX) yield ticked higher to 4.49%.

The US economy added 143,000 jobs in January, missing economist expectations, but still showing signs of resilience in the labor market. The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.0%, from 4.1% in December, the data out Friday showed.

The jobs report has become more crucial to hopes for another Federal Reserve interest-rate cut. Investors are watching for cracks in the market’s stability, as they eye President Donald Trump’s tariff push and the chances of higher inflation.

But Friday’s reading likely won’t be a game-changer, as economists are keeping alive bets that no rate cut will arrive until the central bank’s June meeting.

Meanwhile, eyes were on Amazon’s (AMZN) earnings after it joined Google (GOOG) and other AI-focused Big Tech companies in disappointing Wall Street with its revenue outlook. Shares in Amazon dropped more than 2% in early trading, echoing post-results pullbacks for Google and AMD (AMD) amid doubts about high AI development spending.

But the three major stock gauges are on track to close the earnings-packed week with small gains, even after unpredictable tariff news from Trump kept traders on their toes.

The president has now set his eyes on hedge funds, with a plan to close a favorite tax deduction loophole for fund managers. An adjustment to the closely watched state and local tax (SALT) deduction was also on his administration’s list of tax priorities outlined on Thursday.

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Major averages turn negative after weak consumer sentiment data

The major averages turned negative after consumer sentiment data fell below expectations for the month of February.

The Michigan consumer sentiment index dropped to 67.8, coming in below expectations of 71.8. The February preliminary reading was the lowest registered in about 7 months.

By 10:15 a.m. ET, the S&P 500 (^GSPC) sank 0.3% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) sank 0.8%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) also fell 0.2%.

Meanwhile the 10-year Treasury yield rose to 4.5%.

Among the Big Tech names, Amazon’s (AMZN) stock sank to session lows, dipping nearly 4% after the e-commerce giant issued disappointing revenue outlook.

Stocks inch higher after jobs report shows signs of resilience

Stocks inched higher on Friday as investors digested a monthly jobs report that showed some resilience in the labor market.

The S&P 500 (^GSPC) hovered near the flat line, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) opened slightly higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose 0.1%.

The US economy added 143,000 jobs in January, less than the 173,000 expected by economists. However, hourly wages ticked higher, and the unemployment rate fell to 4.0% from 4.1%.

Meanwhile, December’s jobs additions were revised up to 307,000, from an earlier reading of 256,000 — a sign the labor market exited 2024 on a better footing than thought

On the earnings front, Amazon’s (AMZN) disappointing revenue outlook dragged on shares of the tech giant, which fell more than 2%.

US added 143,000 jobs in January, while unemployment slipped to 4%

Yahoo Finance’s Josh Schafer reports:

The US labor market showed continued signs of resilience in January as the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell and wages grew more than expected.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Friday showed the unemployment rate fell to 4% in January from 4.1% the month prior.

143,000 new jobs were created in January, less than the 170,000 expected by economists, and lower than the 307,000 seen in December. December’s monthly job gains were revised higher from a previous reading of 256,000.

Europe stocks wobble, but head for 7th weekly win

Stocks in Europe wavered on Friday but were on track for weekly gains after a run of robust earnings reports from Novo Nordisk (NVO, NOVO-B.CO) and others.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 (^STOXX) index was holding steady, not far off record highs as it eyed its seventh weekly win in a row. In 2025 so far, European stocks have notched their best performance compared with their US counterparts in around 10 years.

In individual benchmarks, Germany’s DAX (^GDAXI) edged up 0.1%, while the CAC (^FCHI) in Paris traded flat.

London’s FTSE 100 index (^FTSE) slipped roughly 0.3%, after surging on Thursday on the heels of an interest rate cut by the Bank of England that came with unexpectedly dovish commentary.

Good morning. Here’s what’s happening today.

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