Wall Street's main indexes opened lower on Friday as the conflict raging in the Middle East threatened to fuel inflation through higher energy costs and data showed the economy unexpectedly shed jobs in February.
The U.S. economy unexpectedly shed jobs in February and the unemployment rate increased to 4.4%, potentially hinting at a?deterioration in labor market conditions that could put the Federal Reserve in a difficult spot amid rising oil prices.
Wall Street's main indexes opened lower on Friday as the conflict raging in the Middle East threatened to fuel inflation through higher energy costs and data showed the economy unexpectedly shed jobs in February.
The dollar held gains against major currencies on Friday, after data showed an unexpected decline in new jobs created in the world's largest economy last month, suggesting that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates sooner than expected.
* Futures off: Dow 1.21%, S&P 500 1.18%, Nasdaq 1.43% * Marvell Technology shares jump on strong 2028 forecast. * Gap shares drop after warning of pressure from tariffs. * Fed's Waller: current oil price shock to not fuel persistent inflation. By Johann M Cherian and Ragini Mathur.
San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary Daly said Friday that a weaker-than-expected U.S. jobs report underscores her concern about the labor market, but does not mean the Fed should immediately cut rates in response, given the "two-sided" risks posed by still-too-high inflation coupled with a runup in oil prices amid the Iran conflict.
US nonfarm payrolls unexpectedly dropped last month, amplifying concerns about the health of the economy heading into?the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Nonfarm payrolls dropped by 92,000 jobs in February. MARKET REACTION:??. STOCKS: U.S. stocks fell at the open. BONDS: U.S. Treasury yields fell immediately after the payrolls report but then bounced back.
* Two-year Treasury yields set for biggest jump since April. * Two-year UK yields set for biggest weekly rise since 2024. * German 2-year yields see biggest weekly rise since 2023. By Dhara Ranasinghe.
* Weak jobs report shows nonfarm payrolls decreased by 92,000. * Yields fall as Fed rate cut expectations grow. By Chuck Mikolajczak. U.S. Treasury yields were lower on Friday, dropping sharply after a government payrolls report fell well short of expectations and boosted views that the Federal Reserve may need to cut interest rates at a quicker pace.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 6, 2026 Honeywell (HON) today announced that, in connection with the previously announced plan to spin-off Honeywell Aerospace Inc. from Honeywell (HON), Aerospace has commenced a private offering of up to $16 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes.
US retail sales fell by 0.2% in January, a smaller than the 0.3% decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg after it held steady in the previous month. Excluding a 0.9% decrease in motor vehicle sales, retail sales held steady compared with an expected flat reading.
Fresh signs of labor weakness and oil-driven inflation concerns are cornering U.S. Federal Reserve officials into an uncomfortable choice: leave borrowing costs steady to ensure that inflation does not worsen or cut them to shore up a job market that is losing ground. For now, they look poised to wait, even as traders ramped up bets that rate cuts will start in June.
U.S. stock index futures extended declines on Friday as a softer-than-expected jobs report raised worries about the labor market and boosted expectations that the Federal Reserve could imminently cut interest rates. A Labor Department report showed the U.S. economy shed 92,000 jobs last month, compared with economists' estimate for a rise of 59,000.
The February employment report showed nonfarm payrolls fell by 92,000, well below the 55,000 jobs increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg, while January payrolls were revised down to a 126,000 increase and December payrolls were revised down to a 17,000 decrease for a net downward revision of 69,000 jobs.
The U.S. economy unexpectedly lost jobs in February and the unemployment rate increased to 4.4%, potentially hinting at a deterioration in labor market conditions that could put the Federal Reserve in a difficult spot amid rising oil prices.
* Nonfarm payrolls decrease 92,000 in February. * Decline in employment nearly across the board. * Unemployment rate rises to 4.4% from 4.3% in January. By Lucia Mutikani.
Rising gas prices following the U.S. launch of airstrikes against Iran may be a shock to the consumer, but the global jump in oil is not likely to lead to persistent inflation or warrant a change in monetary policy, U.S. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Friday. "You're going to see a spike in gasoline prices.
Rising gas prices following the U.S. launch of airstrikes against Iran may be a shock to the consumer, but the global jump in oil is not likely to lead to persistent inflation or warrant a change in monetary policy, U.S. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Friday. "You're going to see a spike in gasoline prices.
US equity futures were lower pre-bell Friday as traders looked ahead to the crucial monthly jobs report. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.7%, S&P 500 futures were 0.7% lower, and Nasdaq futures were down 0.9%. The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran entered its seventh day on Friday, with Tehran effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping chokepoint.
Industrial production in Brazil rose more than expected in January from December, government statistics agency IBGE said on Friday, despite high interest rates weighing on Latin America's largest economy. * Production rose 1.8% in January, IBGE said. * The median estimate in a Reuters poll projected a 0.7% increase.
The head of the House Financial Services Committee on Friday told Bloomberg TV that he hoped that the first of the twice-yearly updates to Congress from the chair of the Federal Reserve will occur soon.
The head of the House Financial Services Committee on Friday told Bloomberg TV that he hoped that the first of the twice-yearly updates to Congress from the chair of the Federal Reserve will occur soon.
* Middle East conflict stokes demand for the safest assets. * Oil surge raises inflation risks, affects central bank policies. * Fed rate cut bets pushed out, wagers rise for ECB hike this year. By Sophie Kiderlin. The U.S. dollar edged higher on Friday and was set for its steepest weekly gain in more than a year as the escalating conflict in the Middle East drove demand for safe-haven assets.
The benchmark US stock measures were down before the open Friday while oil prices continued to rise as investors monitor the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and await key employment data for February. The S&P 500 decreased 0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.2% and the Nasdaq was off 0.4% in premarket activity.
Kazakhstan's central bank held the base rate steady at 18.00% on Friday, signaling patience despite slowing inflation, said ING. Domestic utility tariffs, fiscal and external risks call for an extended period of tight policy, wrote the bank in a note. ING expects year-end inflation to ease to around 10% year over year.
* German 2-year yields set for biggest weekly rise in almost 3 years. * Investors are awaiting remarks from ECB's Isabel Schnabel later in the session. * Strategists say it's too early to price additional rate hikes. By Stefano Rebaudo.
BEIJING, March 6, 2026 This is a report from China?SCIO: China has set an economic growth target of 4.5% to 5% for this year, while pledging to strive for better results as authorities aim to balance structural reforms, risk prevention, and long-term development goals. The goals are outlined in this year's government work report submitted Thursday to the national legislature for deliberation.
Aluminium soared to its highest in nearly four years on Friday and was set for its biggest weekly rise since early-2023 as supply concerns due to the U.S.-Israel war on Iran intensified. Benchmark three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange was up 3.4% at $3,408.50 per metric ton as of 1700 GMT.
* European stocks and U.S. futures slip. * Oil prices hit highest levels since mid-2024. * Qatar energy minister warns oil could hit $150. By Harry Robertson. European stocks slipped along with U.S. futures on Friday as the U.S.-Iran war drove fresh concerns about oil supplies, prompting traders to rethink their expectations for central bank rate cuts.
* Oil prices in focus as Brent crude tops $80 a barrel. * CPI on Wednesday to give February inflation view. * Higher inflation could temper rate-cut hopes. By Lewis Krauskopf. Investors will seek signs in the coming week of how sprawling the war in the Middle East will become and how much it will disrupt energy supplies, as they chew over fresh inflation data.
Regulatory News: Eutelsat today announces the closing of its ?1.5 billion senior notes offering on 5 March 2026. This transaction represents the final milestone in the Group?s comprehensive c. ?5 billion equity and debt financing strategy, supported by its main shareholders.
Greece's jobless rate rose to 8.3% in the fourth quarter from 8.2% in the third quarter, data by the country's statistics service ELSTAT showed on Friday. The jobless rate for women was 10.8% versus 6.3% for men in the fourth quarter. About 58% of Greece's 394,894 jobless are long-term unemployed, meaning they have been out of work for at least 12 months, the figures showed.
* Middle East conflict stokes demand for the safest assets. * Oil surge raises inflation risks, affects central bank policies. * Fed rate cut bets pushed out, wagers rise for ECB hike this year. By Sophie Kiderlin and Rocky Swift.
Baker Hughes (BKR) said Thursday it has priced a $6.5 billion debt offering made up of five tranches of senior unsecured notes and a 3 billion euro debt offering that includes four tranches of senior unsecured notes.
Kazakhstan's central bank on Friday held its policy rate unchanged at 18%, amid stubbornly high inflation in Central Asia's largest economy, a major energy and minerals exporter. Although the regulator lowered its inflation forecast for 2026 to 9.5-11.5% from 9.5-12.5%, it said there was still no scope for easing monetary policy.
Waste Connections (WCN) said late Thursday it priced an underwritten public offering of $600 million of its 4.800% senior notes due 2036. The notes were priced at 99.732% of their face value, according to the company. Waste Connections (WCN) anticipates to raise about $593 million in net proceeds from the offering, which is expected to close on March 16.
European Central Bank policymaker Jose Luis Escriva said on Friday it was "very improbable", based on current information, that the bank would make a decision on interest rates in the governing council's next meeting.
* Middle East conflict stokes demand for the safest assets. * Oil surge raises inflation risks, affects central bank policies. * Fed rate cut bets pushed out, wagers rise for ECB hike this year. By Rocky Swift.
Arthur Hayes, Chief Investment Officer at?Maelstrom?Fund, told Benzinga on Thursday that rising oil prices and treasury yields could prove positive for Bitcoin . Hayes pointed out the surge in yields on the 10-year Treasury note, which is not typical in a ?risk-off? scenario. Hayes argued that the surge in oil prices has disrupted ?normal investor behavior.
In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.
Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.
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