- Friday's market activity was muted as traders awaited US jobs data that will gauge investor confidence on the potential end of the Federal Reserve's tightening cycle.
- US market futures fell following the S&P 500's largest weekly increase in a year, which was almost 5%. Premarket trading saw a 3.1% decline in Apple as the maker of the iPhone saw lower-than-expected revenue from the greater China region, which negatively impacted the company's performance. Treasury rates continued to decline this week, with the 10-year yielding 4.65% after falling 18 basis points.
- There is growing speculation that central banks are getting ready to end the most aggressive rate hikes since the early 1980s, which is supported by indications that inflation and economic growth are slowing. Important components of that story are the Washington nonfarm payroll data, which is due tomorrow, and the corporate earnings expectation from corporate America.
- It is anticipated that October hiring will have decreased to 180,000, less than half of September's robust increase.
- Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that policymakers have not decided what they would do in December after halting rate hikes this week. He also added that even if they stop once more, it won't necessarily indicate that the tightening cycle is finished.