Overview
- U.S. equities traded unevenly in mid-session, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posting small gains while the Dow lagged as traders assessed fresh labor figures.
- ADP reported private payrolls rose by 41,000 in December, below the 47,000 forecast and following a revised 29,000 decline in November.
- JOLTS data showed U.S. job openings slipped to 7.15 million in November, the lowest since September 2024, a drop analysts said strengthens the case for a possible 25-basis-point cut on January 28.
- Federal Reserve signals remained divided, with Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin describing policy as within a neutral range as Governor Stephen Miran argued for larger cuts to prevent stifling growth.
- Oil prices fell after President Donald Trump said he had an agreement to import up to $2 billion of Venezuelan crude, increasing supply expectations.